Holiday Shoppers Fear Online Fraud
With the holiday season around the corner, online shoppers worldwide are growing more concerned about Web-based scams and identity theft, especially in English-speaking countries, according to an Ipsos study released this week.
The study found that online shoppers in the U.S. Canada and the U.K. are twice as likely to have their identities stolen, compared to those in France, Germany, or Spain. Researchers said part of the reason is that English-language speakers tend to use online passwords and other login data more frequently than online shoppers from other language groups. Sharing passwords and using personal information in login data, like birthdays or nicknames that are often published on social networking sites, can also make consumers more susceptible to scams, the study said.
While online fraud impacts consumers across the world, identity theft tends to occur more frequently in countries where e-commerce activity is concentrated, according to PayPal, an online payment company that sponsored the survey.
The study suggests using more complex passwords, installing anti-virus software, and avoiding suspicious emails as ways consumers can better protect their privacy.
