| Sad as it is, there is the danger of being victimized by | | | | a standard feature of any email program. The fake |
| criminals everywhere these days. You may not even | | | | emails will have links to a spoofed version of the credit |
| see them, but they are there waiting for an opportunity. | | | | card company's website these will look nearly identical |
| One of the biggest threats to your security is identity | | | | to the actual site, including the use of company logos |
| theft over the internet. For tech-savvy criminals around | | | | and other design elements. |
| the globe, stealing credit card information is rapidly | | | | Those of you who have fell victim to this scam, |
| becoming the most popular crime to commit. | | | | probably realized what you have done little too late. |
| This is an easy crime for the perpetrators since they | | | | Once you have entered in your credit card information, |
| can be on the other side of the world from their | | | | you have done exactly what the criminals wanted and |
| victims. They can get online using false information, | | | | put yourself in violation of credit card fraud and identity |
| making it very difficult to track them. The scam most | | | | theft. Once the criminal has your social security |
| commonly seen is called "phishing". This involves | | | | number and credit card information, he is more than |
| sending out fake emails from financial institutions and | | | | likely to use that information to go on a shopping spree |
| credit card companies. The email will say that the | | | | stealing your money and running up your account. |
| customer must take some action in connection with | | | | For them, this means a vacation or some expensive |
| their account. Other emails will state that the customer | | | | shopping - for you, it could mean financial ruin! |
| must act immediately since someone else has been | | | | Criminals are everywhere today and you can't |
| accessing their account. | | | | necessarily tell who they are. You have to take steps |
| It is often no problem at all to spot these fake emails - | | | | to protect yourself from their scams. If you get an |
| for instance, if you get an email purporting to be from | | | | email claiming to be from your credit card company, |
| a company with which you do not have an account or | | | | call them and ask if it is legitimate. Don't call any |
| credit card. There's another easy way to spot these | | | | telephone number given in the email - use the |
| scams. Move your cursor over the "from" line in the | | | | customer service number from your credit card |
| email. Click the right mouse button and you'll see the | | | | statement. |
| email address of the sender; if it doesn't match your | | | | For the sake of your financial health, it is imperative |
| credit card company's address, it's a dead giveaway. | | | | that you take precautions and keep yourself safe |
| Many people are unaware of this method, although it is | | | | from these scammers. |