Trade safely and protect your personal information
Uniting buyers and sellers knowledge together to protect our trading community
How does OfferMe protects your private information?
At OfferMe, the safety of your personal information is always our highest priority. We have gone to great lengths to ensure that your information is completely secure, delivering peace-of-mind to our users. This includes remaining up-to-date with the current web safety standards and implementing various 'net-protection steps to overcome the risk of identity theft, credit card fraud, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams.
These steps include:
1. GeoTrust SSL Extended Validation:
The OfferMe site has been issued an Extended Validation SSL. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a cryptographic protocol that provides security for communications over the Internet. With Extended Validation, visitors using high-security browsers see the address bar turn green when they visit our site. Extended Validation SSL Certificates provide a convenient and visible sign of OfferMe's authenticity and the knowledge that your information is secure. Additionally, our Extended Validation features up to 256-bit SSL encryption and the dynamic GeoTrust True Site Seal, so you know that you're dealing with the real OfferMe every time.
2. McAfee Secure Certification:
The OfferMe site is tested and certified daily to pass the “McAfee Secure” Security Scan. To help address concerns about possible hacker access to your confidential data, and the safety of visiting this site, the "live" McAfee Secure mark appears only when OfferMe passes the daily McAfee Secure tests.
What is McAfee? McAfee is the world leader in 'net security testing. Acting as a third-party, independent to OfferMe, McAfee provides our users with protection from identity theft, credit card fraud, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams. McAfee Secure websites must pass the scrutiny of stringent daily testing. McAfee Secure shopping sites are the most secure shopping destinations on the web, allowing you to browse and shop on OfferMe with complete confidence.
3. Westpac Credit Card Security:
All credit card transactions processed on OfferMe Group Buy are handled completely by Westpac Bank, the largest banking corporation in Australia. Westpac, whose reputation has been built on reliability and customer security, deal with all credit card details. No credit card information is stored on the OfferMe site.
4. OfferMe only deals with registered, verified sellers:
To maintain the high level of security and protection OfferMe has, we only ever deal with retailers who have passed a strict screening process. This includes verifying their Australian Business Registration. It ensures that the trading experience will be rewarding for both our buyers and our sellers.
5. Further steps taken by OfferMe:
As part of our information protection policy, we guarantee that
- We'll never store your credit card details anywhere on our systems;
- We'll only ever use reputable & reliable third parties that satisfy our stringent security standards;
- We'll always use networking security measures, such as Firewalling & VPNs, to maintain your protection.
Is it safe to use your credit card on OfferMe Group Buy?
OfferMe takes every measure to guarantee your safety through credit card payment process on our Group Buy. This includes:
- Using sophisticated safeguards like firewalls, encryption and Secure Socket Layers to help protect your personal information from loss, theft, and unauthorised access & disclosure.
- Having Australia's largest banking group, the Westpac Bank, to handle all credit card payments made to OfferMe, so your credit card and personal details are completely protected by the latest industry standard procedures.
- Scrutinising every aspect of the OfferMe website daily, through the use of the McAfee Secure Security Scan and certifying our website's safety every 24-hours.
Additionally, as part of our information protection policy, we guarantee that
- We'll never store your credit card details anywhere on our systems;
- We'll only ever use reputable & reliable third parties that satisfy our stringent security standards.
- We always use networking security measures, such as firewalling and VPN's to maintain your proctection.
Keep your password safe:
Precautions to keep your password safe:
- Choose a unique password by including a combination of number & letters in your password;
- Do NOT use your name as your password;
- Do NOT use anything as your password which can be easily guessed;
- It's better to keep your OfferMe user ID & password different to your email address & banking passwords.
- It's wise to change your password frequently.
- Once you've finished your session on OfferMe, make sure you sign out to prevent any account abuse.
If you've forgotten your password:
- Go to OfferMe's Forgot Your Password page;
- Enter your User ID;
- You will then need to provide select additional information to verify your identity.
How do I change my password?
- Once you're signed in to your OfferMe account, click on the 'My OfferMe' tab at the top of the page.
- Click on the 'My Account' tab.
- Select 'Account Information' from the drop down menu. You will then see your complete account details including your address, email address, phone number and password.
- Click on 'Edit' to change your selected information.
- Follow the procedure and do not forget to click on 'Confirm' after you've finished editing your information.
To change your account details, click here.
Keep your computer safe:
Get a personal firewall:
Connecting to the Internet without a firewall can allow hackers to gain access to your computer without your permission. Configure a personal software firewall to allow only essential internet connections
Keep your browser & operating system up to date:
Ensuring you have the latest security updates will help you have a safe Internet experience. Configure your computer to do automatic software patch updates. This will make the task of keeping your software up-to-date as easy as possible. Read your browser's help to learn about the security features of your browser. OfferMe recommends the following browsers:
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or later
- Apple Safari 3 or later
- Mozilla Firefox 3 or later
Install anti-viruses & anti-spyware software:
Spyware is software that gains access to your computer without your permission, and then runs through tasks that you may not wish, such as loading advertising messages, collecting personal information, or changing the configuration of your computer. The good news is that you can prevent spyware getting onto your computer and that there is now anti-spyware software.
- Configure your anti-virus software so it updates itself at least daily.
- Spyware scanners compliment anti-virus software. They detect and protect against a variety of programs that can be secretly installed on your computer.
Some precautions:
- Be very careful opening email attachments. Do not open attachments from strangers, where the subject line is questionable or you don't know what the file type is (Word, Excel etc). Viruses can often look like they come from people you know.
- Be careful downloading files. Do not download files from strangers. Make sure you always download from legitimate and reputable sources.
- Back-up your files on a regular basis. If a virus destroys your files, at least you will have a back-up copy. Do not store your backup copy on the same computer that you're trying to protect.
Stop Spam:
Spam is computer lingo for the emails you don't want. Spam often contains marketing information, pornography or information on how you can send your money to Nigeria and never see it again. You can install a spam filter software to overcome this. These filters examine incoming emails to determine whether or not it's spam.
How to avoid, or at least, reduce spam:
- Do not choose a guessable email address. An email address like bob_smith@hotmail.com or genius@hotmail.com is easily guessed by a spammer because they use simple names or words that can be found in the dictionary. Services like Hotmail, with millions of members, virtually ensure you will get spammed to death.
- Be very careful with your primary email address. Your main email address should only be given to companies and people you absolutely trust. Register a free web-based email address to use when signing up to websites you never intend to visit again.
- Never open spam. Opening spam can tell the spammer they have found a valid email address to keep spamming or to sell to other spammers.
- Turn off email images. Images within emails can be used to tell the sender that you've opened the email. Switch your default setting to not show images in emails.
- Never publish your email address on the Internet. Spammers will find it and send you a lot of new email that you don't want.
- Contact your ISP and read the help for your email program. Your Internet provider and email program will be painfully aware of spam and should provide tools and information to further reduce spam.
Phishing emails & spoof websites:
Phishing is when a scammer sends legitimate-looking emails that appear to come from websites or companies. It is is one of the biggest threats to your security online so it’s important to understand what it is and how to protect yourself. The emails try to “phish” for information – like usernames or passwords. They often ask you to confirm your details or click a link and login. Phishing emails usually link to spoof sites that look identical to the company's site, but are operated by the scammer. When you enter your details the scammer records them and is then able to sign in to the real site as you
Recognising the phishing emails:
- Most of these emails will not include your real name and begin with 'Attention OfferMe member'.
- Many spoof emails try to trick you into acting quickly by issuing you a warning (such as threatening account suspension) or urging quick action by suggesting problems with your account.
- These email will contain a fake link such as http://signin%2offerme%2Ecom%2Eau@10.19.32.4 – NEVER click on these links.
Report spoof emails to us:
If you receive any suspicious emails acting as OfferMe, please report them to enquiry@offerme.com.au immediately.
Deal with spoof emails & websites:
We will never ask your email address, User ID or password via your email.
- Make sure that if you want go to OfferMe the address always starts with http://www.offerme.com.au/
- Upgrade your browser regularly, as the latest versions of web browsers (like Internet Explorer & Firefox) include anti-phishing features which help identify the legitimacy of the site you are visiting.
- Never click on the links provided in these emails
- Regularly check your OfferMe account, email accounts and bank accounts.
Account theft:
Account theft or identity theft is a crime, and occurs if someone obtains information about you (such as your name, credit card number, online account passwords and/or other identifying information) and uses this information to commit fraud or other crimes. In most cases it happens when:
- You provide confidential information to a Phishing (fake) web site.
- An unauthorised person gains access, or attempts to access, one of your accounts.
How to protect your identity?
- Do not reply to emails or pop-up messages that request login details or financial information.
- Never give out personal information or passwords via email. Legitimate companies, such as OfferMe, will never ask for this information via email.
- Only enter your credit card details on secure encrypted internet pages. Look for a padlock icon on the bottom of you browser, a green SSL certification highlight in the address bar or make sure the address begins with "https:" (the "s" stands for "secure").
- Use anti-virus software and a spyware detector to keep your system up-to-date.
- Choose a unique password for your OfferMe account and try not to use it elsewhere.
- Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive.
- Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or are sure you know who you're dealing with.
- Review credit card and bank statements when you receive them and check for unauthorised transactions.
Steps to deal with account or identity theft:
- Contact your credit card company – if you've entered a credit card number – and cancel your account whilst alerting them to the situation.
- Contact your bank – if you've provided bank account information – and ask for instructions about protecting your account.
- File a police report with either your local police or where the identity theft took place.
- Make a copy of the report and note the date it was filed in case your credit card company or bank needs proof of the crime.
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