Identity Theft: Phishing in Dangerous Water

Have you received one yet? You know. The emaillook authentic. Users need to review all emails
directing you to visit a familiar website where for somerequesting personal information carefully. When
odd reason you're being asked to update yourreviewing your email remember that the "From Field"
personal information? The website asks you to verifycan be easily changed by the sender. While it may
your passwords, credit card numbers, social securitylook like it's coming from a company you do business
number, or even your bank account. You recognizewith, looks can be deceiving. Keep in mind that phishers
the company name as one that you've done businesswill go all out in trying to make their emails look as
with in the past, so you click on the "take me there" linklegitimate as possible. They will even copy logos or
and proceed to provide all the information they'veimages from the official site to use in their emails. They
requested. No problem right? Except you find outalso like to include a clickable link which the recipient
much later that the website is a fraud. It was createdcan follow to conveniently "update" their information.
for one reason: to steal your personal information.How do you check to see if the link is authentic? Point
Welcome to the world of phishing.at the link with your mouse, and then look in the bottom
Phishing (pronounced as "fishing") means to send anleft hand screen of your computer. The actual website
email to a recipient falsely claiming to have anaddress to which you are being directed will show up
established, legitimate business. By fooling the recipientfor you to view. This is a fast and easy way to check
into giving their private information, the phisher has inif you are being directed to a legitimate site.
effect stolen their identity.Also never and I mean NEVER click the links within the
It's not easy to spot an email phishing for information.text of the e-mail. Delete the e-mail immediately and
At first glance, the email may look like it is from aempty the trash box in all of your e-mail accounts as
legitimate company. The "From" field of the e-mail maywell. If you are truly concerned that you are missing an
have the .com address of the company mentioned inimportant notice regarding one of your accounts, then
the e-mail. The clickable link even appears to take youtype the full URL address of the website into your
to the company's website, but in fact, it is a fakebrowser. That way you can be confident that you are
website built to replicate the legitimate site.being directed to the true and legitimate website.
Many of these people are professional criminals thatPhishing is a major weapon of choice for online identity
have spent considerable time in creating emails thatthieves. Don't get hooked.