Mobile shopping is the new online shopping. As smartphones and tablets consume an ever-growing piece of the cyberspace consumer economy, it?s easier than ever to make the same kinds of transactions on the go as you would on a home computer. And, of course, that means that it?s also just as easy to fall prey to a variety of scams aimed at pirating identities and bank accounts.

Newer mobile devices make it possible to do an unprecedented range of financial business away from home. It?s possible to scan checks for deposit to a bank account, order and pay for goods from online merchants, and even accept cretin card payments for services rendered. But the very ease of doing business this way makes mobile transactions particularly vulnerable.

Use Trustworthy Apps
Mobile devices rely on apps, short for applications, that allow for connections to online locations. Although apps for online buying, banking and many other functions are available from a variety of sources, fraud experts recommend getting your mobile apps from recognized and trusted App Stores, such as Apple, Amazon or Google. Untrustworthy third party apps may not be secure, allowing for hacking or intercepting the data you?re sending.

Secure Your Device With Passwords
You use passwords on your computer, so if you use your phone or tablet for financial transactions, it?s wise to set up password security on those devices too. It?s possible to set up several levels of password protection ? for the device itself so no one but its owner has access, and for specific apps and data installed on the device. Although it may seem like a nuisance, establishing unique hard to hack passwords is a simple and cost free way to stay safe.

Use Secure Connections
While it?s easy to do a quick transaction over public WiFi in your favorite coffee house, experts warn that this is the easiest way for hackers to hijack your passwords and transaction information, including credit card numbers. When accessing websites from a mobile device, be sure that any site you send data to has a secure HTTPS connection, rather than the unsecured HTTP connection. That little S added to a site?s address ensures that data you send is only shared with the receiving device, while unsecured data can be picked up by other sources.

Mobile apps are making it easier than ever to do business wherever you go. But because mobile technology is still developing, it?s an area ripe for scams and theft. A few precautions and a little vigilance can go a long way toward protecting your finances ? and stay in control of your investments.  (Top images: Flickr/GoodNCrazy)

Join Jason Hartman and his team of investing experts for the Austin Executive Property Tour in Austin, TX on September 28, 2013. This one day event features a tour of available properties as well as question and answer sessions with Austin property professionals. For more information click here.

The Jason Hartman Team

Tags: identity theft, Income properties, Jason Hartman, market predictions, online scams, real estate investing

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