It isn't wise to share credit-card or password information with freelance virtual assistants before building a trusting relationship, experts say.

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At Amazon.com, it takes eight clicks--along with entering an e-mail address, password, physical address and credit card number--to buy the latest Modest Mouse CD.

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For best protection, Ozancin recommends two-factor authentication3: adding an additional security mechanism to the password one such as a smart card or an encryption key pair.

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At Amazon.com (nasdaq: AMZN - news - people ), it takes eight clicks--along with entering an e-mail address, password, physical address and credit card number--to buy the latest Modest Mouse CD.

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The fraudulent eBay site not only asks for users' eBay identification, password and email address but also credit card, bank account, drivers license and social security numbers.

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Typically they ask the recipient to supply confidential information, like a username, password, social security number, or credit card number.

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The card has touch-sensitive buttons and the ability to create a "one-time password" - doing away with the need for a separate device sometimes needed to log in to online banking.

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