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