The Costa Rican Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) joins an international campaign in March to increase awareness of consumer fraud, and ways to protect yourself, whether online or otherwise.

This year’s theme is Internet fraud, one of the most common fraudulent business practices today. Various online ploys can compromise your personal information that then allows access to your credit card or bank account. The consumer protection campaign is promoted internationally by the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network, said MEIC.

The Ministry’s advice: If it looks to good to be true, it probably is. With this they are referring to emails, Internet pop-up ads, and other electronic messages relating to lotteries, sweepstakes, proposals for investments or acquisition of goods at discount prices by email, or notifications of prize earnings, especially when these notices request your personal data or a payment via a wire service.

Stay safe: Only make money transfers using trusted and secure services; never give out your personal data if requested in a phone or email solicitation; and, also helpful, though never fail-safe – keep your computer’s anti-virus and other protective systems up-to-date and active.

The Ministry said the following computer protection softwares are reliable and effective, and some are available for free  – though many offer only a time-limited free trial:

Firewalls:
COMODO Internet Security
Zone Alarm
Sunbelt Personal Firewall.

Antivirus Software:
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
avast! 4 Home Edition
Malwarebutes’ Anti-Malware
Panda Cloud Antivirus.

Antivirus Online Service:
ActiveScan 2.0 de Panda – Tu segunda opinion sobre la seguridad de tu PC
Trend Micro HouseCall – Trend Micro Espana
Software antivirus y seguridad en Internet para su equipo McAfee
Norton Secutiry Scan
Virus Total.

Spam Protection:
G-lock SpamCombat
SPAMfighter
Spaminhilator
Mailinator.

Spy Detection Software:
Spybot S&D
Windows Defender.

Scammers aren’t called “artists” for nothing — many scams are artfully and skillfully created and communicated, and can come hidden in the form of professional looking surveys, questionnaires, social media quizzes, and fake anti-virus program offers.

In Costa Rica, there have been some recent scams in which telephoners appear to be contacting people from their bank, and in doing so, obtain personal data and even bank account passwords. Be aware of unusual behavior, and call your bank directly if you have any doubts.

So, always check the source of what you are opening and responding to, and – as always – go with your gut.