On the Internet, fraudulent transactions are the most common crime committed with stolen identities. Whether a credit card account has been taken over or a stolen identity was used to create a new credit account, these accounts are used to attack e-businesses. In essence, a fraudulent transaction involves an individual filling out an order form as though they were someone else, the merchant accepting the order, and the shipment of goods or services that the suspect can receive. This type of fraud is also sometimes referred to as Internet Identity Theft . Criminals around the world are stealing credit card numbers, bank account passwords and other sensitive information in greater numbers than ever before and committing Internet Identity Theft .

There is little difference between traditional identity theft and Internet Identity Theft, except in Internet Identity Theft the identity thief remains hidden from detection as a virtual entity on a public network. Although the identity thieves methods and taxonomy of identity theft are similar, the technology of the Internet allows the suspect to move quickly, opening new accounts, striking merchant sites with rapid attacks, creating new victims in the number of merchants and volume of transactions that can be posted, and then disappearing into another identity.

Mostly Internet Identity Theft is committed using hacking tools, easily found on the Web, that let them spy on the Internet habits of hundreds of thousands of people, from the sites they visit to the keystrokes they enter. Some of the technology has been around for years, but security experts say organized crime and other groups are learning to use it in creative ways. Merely surfing the Web, even visiting some familiar and trusted Web sites, can bring dangerous exposure to criminals. Specialized programs -- that aid in Internet Identity Theft -- also know as "Spyware" have been developed to keep a eye on the users internet habits, log in his key information and send them to the identity thief's server.

While virus protection and security software can help lower those risks, another for of Internet Identity Theft is leaving many users on their own: e-mail "phishing," the random attempt to obtain account numbers and passwords by criminals masquerading as legitimate businesses.

There are many things you can do to reduce Internet Identity Theft:

1. Never ever send your Social Security Number or credit card numbers over the internet from mail or publish them over any website.
   
   
2. Know whom you are giving personal data to and how they intend to use it. While shopping, make sure that you know the company you are shopping from. Usually online stores display their Toll Free numbers or contact information on their websites, make sure to contact them and verify their authenticity before making any purchase. Do not forget to check the websites 128 bit SSL certificate. This security certificate can be checked by looking for the little padlock in the lower portion of your browser. This icon is not a guarantee of a secure site, but might provide you at least some assurance. Make sure the certificate has been issued by a reputed Certifying Authority such as Verisign or Thawte.
   
   
3. Try not to use Debit Cards while making purchases on the internet. Use credit cards instead, in case of any problems you can always dispute the charges with credit cards.
   
   
4. Please check if the website is only asking for information that is absolutely relevant for completing a transaction. Do not give any information such as your bank account number, social security number, or other personal information that isn't absolutely necessary to complete your transaction.
   
   
5. Protect you internet passwords at all costs. Do not give out any of your Internet passwords, change these passwords as often as you can, do not write down the passwords anywhere memorize them instead. Don't choose simple passwords that are easy to guess. Always choose Alpha-numeric passwords.
   
   
6. Do not buy things online from somebody else computers especially from public computers such as Cyber Cafes.
   
   
7. Check your credit history and credit report occasionally.

Internet Identity Theft is a serious crime and big problem for victims. Victims whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record.