Dear Editor:

Shopping online at the holidays — and throughout the year — offers many benefits. By using the Internet consumers can shop conveniently at home, avoiding crowds as well as wear and tear on their vehicles and themselves.

Especially at the holidays when shoppers sometimes rush from store to store to find that one special gift, the large selection available online allows consumers to simplify gift-giving by comparing prices and arranging for shipping with just a few key clicks and keystrokes.

At the same time, shopping online exposes consumers to the possibility of fraud, identity theft and privacy invasion. Even with security measures on Web sites, it can be possible for identity thieves to retrieve private information, such as credit cards numbers or personal data. In fact, in 2006 more than eight million Americans were identity theft victims, and it took an average of 25 hours for a victim to correct his or her situation. The cost of identity theft was $49 billion in 2006, and as much as 25 percent of credit card fraud each year comes from identity theft.

To help consumers avoid becoming victims of cyber crime, an online resource from the American Bar Association Section of Business Law presents tips and practices to make online shopping experiences as safe as possible. Available at www.safeshopping.org, the resource provides information on Web site security, privacy, payment options, identifying reputable sellers, ensuring product satisfaction, understanding purchase terms, arranging for delivery, keeping records, making complaints and other general tips.

Members of the ___________ Bar Association urge all community members to visit this site to protect themselves and their credit. Spending a few minutes reviewing the topics at the safeshopping.org site will help prevent fraud while maintaining privacy and security.

Sincerely,
_____________

President
________ Bar Association

© 2007 American Bar Association