As online shopping becomes a more secure and viable convenience, the number of people engaging in online shopping continues to increase. Studies show that in 2005 alone, online shopping increased by 33 percent, and internet retailers don't expect to see a drop in numbers for a long time. Online shopping lets internet users browse hundreds of online stores, find the best prices, and make their purchases, all from the comfort of their own home. Internet users are drawn to online shopping as a haven from crowded malls, bad weather, and the many other inconveniences of in-person shopping.

However, there are many people who still don't feel safe transferring their credit card or personal information through an online shopping cart, especially if they are not familiar with the internet site in question. While the growth in online shopping works to provide customers with more options and retailers with more customers, it also brings an increase in the number of scammers looking to trick users into giving away their financial information through Phishing or other fraudulent practices.

Phishing is the criminal act of using internet communication to fool a person into revealing personal or financial information. A common phishing scam involves a perpetrator pretending to represent a legitimate business sending of phony emails asking a user to update or confirm account information via the internet. The email usually will contain a link that will direct the user to what appears to be a legitimate internet site that will ask you to enter personal information. What the user doesn't realize is that the site in question a fake, and that any information they enter, such as credit card numbers, names, addresses and passwords, is being viewed by the scammer, who is free to use this information to gain access to the accounts and steal money or even the user's identity.

According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, phishing scams increased by 228 percent from October 2004 to October 2005. In light of such a high risk, many people who engage in online shopping are concerned that they may become a victim of an internet-based phishing attack or credit card scam. Though internet retailers have taken many steps to guarantee the security of their sites and to establish trust with those who do their shopping online, people still fear the repercussions of typing personal information into an internet site and paying online with a credit card. Luckily, there are many ways a user can take advantage of online shopping while keeping his information safe from scammers. Some basic precautions are:

1. Shop only with reputable internet sites. Internet sites that display a seal of approval from an agency such as the Better Business Bureau have passed sets of standards and inspections, and are generally safe.
2. Do not reply to an email or message asking for personal or financial information, and don't follow any links in the message. A legitimate company will never ask for this information via email.
3. Use antivirus/anti spyware software, a popup blocker, and a firewall, and keep them up to date. Some phishing emails contain viruses or spyware.
4. Don't send personal or financial information through an email.
5. Don't open any attachments or download files sent by a business, an organization, or an unfamiliar email address.
6. Use PayPal or another method of payment besides a credit card for online shopping.

If internet users exercise caution and common sense while shopping, online shopping can be a great way to find good deals on merchandise. To help combat the trend of internet phishing scams, the Federal Trade Commission recommends forwarding suspicious emails to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the email. Victims of phishing should file complaints at www.ftc.gov, and visit the FTC's Identity Theft website at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.