• Protect your personal information. It's valuable.
• Know who you're dealing with.
• Use anti-virus software and a firewall, and update both regularly.
• Make sure your operating system and Web browser are set up properly and update them regularly.
• Protect your passwords.
• Back up important files.
• Learn who to contact if something goes wrong online.

In 2005, the FBI joined the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the online job search company Monster Worldwide, and other partners in launching a new website- LooksTooGoodToBeTrue.com-to educate the public about Internet schemes and to provide a central place for consumers to file complaints.

What does the site offer? For starters, a novel interactive online fraud risk test that lets you measure your online safety habits relating to identity theft, financial fraud, Internet auctions, counterfeiting, lottery scams, and computer privacy. Take the test here!

The site also provides prevention tips, details on current cyber scams, consumer alerts, victim stories, and an opportunity to share your own story of cyber fraud.

We encourage you to take a look at the new website...and, above all, to take its advice:

Be suspicious of e-mails that appear to be from banks, online auction sites, or other retailers that ask you to correct mistakes in your account information or to provide other personal information.

Never use a link in an e-mail to visit any website if the e-mail is asking for sensitive personal information or if you have any doubt at all about the sender or site. Instead, type in the address that you normally use to log onto the site.

If you have doubts, call the business on the telephone. You should always be able to resolve any issues with the customer service representative if the company is legitimate.

Only purchase goods and services from sites you trust. Software makes it easy to create websites and emails that look exactly like the real ones. Examine all offers carefully before purchasing.

Would you like to learn more about Internet Safety for your children? NetSmartz.com is a parent and guardian's online resource for learning about Internet safety, computers and the Web.

View Internet Safety Information provided by the Minnesota Office of the Attorney General.