Tips for avoiding online scams:

* Know the person to whom you are giving information to whether it's over the Internet, phone or fax.  Don't provide personal information unless you initiate contact and are certain of legitimacy.

* Be suspicious of any request for personal information. Financial institutions are unlikely to ask for personal information in an e-mail.

* Do business only with Internet companies that use a secure form for private information such as account or credit card numbers. The form will tell you that the site is secure and ask if you wish to proceed.

* Don't buy products from merchant or auction sites if the deal looks "too good to be true."

* Change your passwords periodically, using passwords that can't be easily guessed.

* Always log off from your online banking session. Shut off your computer or disconnect from the Internet when not in use.

Source: Comerica Bank