FTC's top 10 fraud safety tips

ATLANTA - Nearly half of  Americans report they have been scammed or defrauded in some way. And a new survey shows those same people feel that law enforcement needs to help tighten Internet security.

It's a big job trying to patch up holes in Internet security. A thief can reach anonymously around the world into your wallet and back out again without you noticing maybe for days or months down the road.  

The Digital Citizens Alliance, a consumer-focused group that works to educate the public on all things Internet, says a whopping 71 percent of us want tougher state and federal laws.  

But in the meantime, the FTC has a list of things you can do daily to protect yourself.

• Do online research. 
• Don't trust Caller ID to be accurate 
• Watch how you pay. 

The first thing you can do in any situation is to do a little online research about anything that comes your way. Answers to nearly everything are a quick Google search away.  

The phone rings. Caller ID shows that it's your bank. Do not believe your Caller ID. Those numbers are spoofed or made to look like it's from your bank. If someone on the other line asks for personal information, hang up. Don't cough up that information to a stranger. 

And watch how you pay. Credit cards offer the most fraud protection. If a stranger, or a business for that matter, requires you to wire money as payment or a to use a reloadable card of some sort, be very suspicious. The Federal Trade Commission says an honest business won't require payment this way.  

Get familiar wit the FTC's full top 10 list ways of protecting yourself. Make them all normal practice.