Click&Buy Suggests Ways to Protect Yourself from Internet Fraud and Scammers.

The Federal Trade Commission has listed Internet fraud as the number one cause of fraud for five years in a row. As more people shop online, communicate via email or use wireless laptops, the areas for Internet fraud do increase. If you chose to do Internet shopping, there are quick and easy steps to protect yourself.

First, when accessing a website think about the following questions before buying online: Do I want companies to store my information? Who owns the company? How reliable is the company?

If it is an unknown company, you may want to buy something as a one time transaction, but think twice before you allow them to store my information.

"Even if it is a large company, in light of the recent 'breaks' and leaks from databases, I would probably still be skeptical. In spite of all this, I do want convenience of my online buying experience. I do allow, for example, Amazon.com to store my information so that I can use their 'one-click' feature," said Chandresh Shah, Executive Vice President of digital payments company Click&Buy. Click&Buy, a leading ePayment and storefront provider for online and mobile digital content and services, provides services for 6,000 merchants and 6 million users.

According to Shah, there are two popular online payment accounts - the eWallet or the Stored Value Accounts, and the good news is that new and secure easy to use payment methods are constantly improving. He believes eWallets are the best bet for the consumer and here's why.

1. e-Wallets.

An e-Wallet stores your payment details in a safe and secure place. Sensitive payment information doesn't get sent over the Internet between your computer and the store you are buying from. It's also important to create pre-set limits, limiting the amount of money you spend. Also remember to sign up with providers of e-Wallets that you can trust and have a proven track record.

2. Stored Value accounts or cards.

This is a 'pre-paid' account where the merchant holds a certain amount of money upfront. As you continue buying, the amount in the account decreases. If it reaches a certain low threshold, the consumer is asked to 'refill' these accounts. While this is a good and safe method for merchants, it is not widely accepted by consumers. If you don't use all the money in a pre-paid account, you may not get it refunded back to you.

"I recommend eWallets. Try to avoid pre-pay and only choose post-pay. You will usually lose money on pre-paid accounts and make sure that you know all the ways to make safe and secure transactions online," said Shah.

Here are five quick ways to ensure transactions are safe and secure

1. Use eWallets from trustworthy companies.

2. Use a secure browser. The browser should have a 'lock' symbol at the bottom right corner. The sites with these locks have addresses that begin with "https". This ensures secure and encrypted information over the Internet.

3. Ask for confirmation emails of all transactions. Keep records and store them in an archived email folder.

4. Review all statements for any doubtful purchases. If you see an unrecognizable transaction, call the number listed in the statement. Sometimes the name on the credit card may be different from the merchant you recognize on the web site. If you're not satisfied with the explanation given by the merchant listed, call the bank or credit card company and let them know that you did not authorize the transaction.

5. Put a self-imposed limit on eWallets. This way, you protect yourself even if your information is stolen.

In conclusion, the items that you select while shopping online can be picked in a well-protected environment. Just remember a few things: keep records of all transactions, look for secure websites and use eWallets to keep a lid on spending.