1) When applying for any product online, always make sure the site you are applying to and giving your personal information, is a trustworthy, real-time encrypted, safe and secure site.

2) Check a companies' privacy policies, terms and conditions, and security policy.

3) Check for a valid certificate. This can be found on the page that is usually a seal of protection from various Internet companies.  When you click on the link it should bring up a valid security certificate, such as Verisign, or another reputable online security company.

4) When in doubt CALL, if there is any suspicious, abnormal questions or information, always call the number listed on their website for help, can't find a number. Feel free to contact the BBB or state in which they operate to find out more information on the company.