| Have you received one yet? You know. The email | | | | look authentic. Users need to review all emails |
| directing you to visit a familiar website where for some | | | | requesting personal information carefully. When |
| odd reason you're being asked to update your | | | | reviewing your email remember that the "From Field" |
| personal information? The website asks you to verify | | | | can be easily changed by the sender. While it may |
| your passwords, credit card numbers, social security | | | | look like it's coming from a company you do business |
| number, or even your bank account. You recognize | | | | with, looks can be deceiving. Keep in mind that phishers |
| the company name as one that you've done business | | | | will go all out in trying to make their emails look as |
| with in the past, so you click on the "take me there" link | | | | legitimate as possible. They will even copy logos or |
| and proceed to provide all the information they've | | | | images from the official site to use in their emails. They |
| requested. No problem right? Except you find out | | | | also like to include a clickable link which the recipient |
| much later that the website is a fraud. It was created | | | | can 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 an | | | | left hand screen of your computer. The actual website |
| email to a recipient falsely claiming to have an | | | | address to which you are being directed will show up |
| established, legitimate business. By fooling the recipient | | | | for you to view. This is a fast and easy way to check |
| into giving their private information, the phisher has in | | | | if 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 a | | | | empty the trash box in all of your e-mail accounts as |
| legitimate company. The "From" field of the e-mail may | | | | well. If you are truly concerned that you are missing an |
| have the .com address of the company mentioned in | | | | important notice regarding one of your accounts, then |
| the e-mail. The clickable link even appears to take you | | | | type the full URL address of the website into your |
| to the company's website, but in fact, it is a fake | | | | browser. 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 that | | | | Phishing is a major weapon of choice for online identity |
| have spent considerable time in creating emails that | | | | thieves. Don't get hooked. |