In his open letter, Wasden (who is also Idaho's attorney general) outlines nine tips for consumers to ensure a successful buying experience and avoid becoming victims of online scams and identity thieves.

Briefly, they include: (1) Know who you’re dealing with (2) Know what you are buying (3) Don’t e-mail your financial information (4) Pay by credit or charge card (5) Check out the terms of the deal, such as refund policies and delivery dates (6) Keep a paper trail (7) Use anti-virus software and a firewall and update them regularly (8) Check a company’s privacy policy (9) Get satisfaction.

Read his full list of recommendations here.