| Phishing is the practice of sending fraudulent email | | | | web site. |
| messages supposedly from a legitimate company or | | | | The criminals who send out Phishing emails have taken |
| organization in order to trick someone into giving out | | | | their scam to a new level. Now people are getting |
| personal and confidential information. This information | | | | Phishing messages that offer a reward for responding |
| could include a user ID, password, credit card number | | | | to the message. The newest Phishing scam is a |
| or even a Social Security number. At its most basic | | | | message that states you ve won a gift card |
| level, Phishing is a form of identity theft. It is one of the | | | | somewhere (JC Penney, Circuit City and The Sports |
| fastest growing cyber crimes, and there are estimates | | | | Authority have been recent ones), and you need to |
| that 1 in 20 people who receive a Phishing email will | | | | click the link in the email to provide the information |
| respond to it with their personal information. Since the | | | | where the gift can be sent. Other Phishing emails offer |
| criminals who send out these Phishing messages are | | | | free enrollment in a fraud protection program by |
| good at what they do, it's important to be able to | | | | clicking the link and providing the requested information. |
| recognize a Phishing email so you won't respond to | | | | - The message states specifically "this is not a scam". |
| their request and become a victim of identity theft. | | | | How does that saying go if it looks like a duck and |
| Here are a few signs that the message you have | | | | quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck. Legitimate |
| received might just be a Phishing expedition. | | | | messages don't need to state the obvious. |
| - The email message is generic. Phishing emails are | | | | - A request is made to verify your information, and a |
| sent out in bulk to thousands of people, so you'll see a | | | | link provided for you to do so. Phishing emails will use |
| generic greeting like 'Dear Valued Customer' and not | | | | some tactic in order to trick the recipient into providing |
| directly addressed to you by name. | | | | confidential information. This request is often tied in with |
| - The message gives a false sense of urgency. | | | | the false sense of urgency created in the message. |
| Phishing emails are developed and designed specifically | | | | The link will take you to a very authentic looking site |
| to push the recipient to immediate action. If there is no | | | | and ask you to fill in certain personal information. If you |
| compelling reason to respond to the message, you | | | | recognize you've made a mistake and you try to go |
| won't. But if there is a fear of some kind of | | | | back to a Phishing web site you probably won't find it. |
| consequence for not providing the requested | | | | The average lifespan of a Phishing web site in |
| information you might just be motivated to act quickly. | | | | December 2004 was 6 days. |
| This fear, urgency or even panic created by a Phishing | | | | The link that is included in the email message for you |
| email begins right with the subject line. Here are a few | | | | to click and provide information might look legitimate, |
| examples from actual Phishing messages: | | | | but it isn't. Often the criminals will create a web site |
| 'Online Alert: Online Account is Blocked' | | | | that has almost the same name as the original web |
| 'Fraud Report' | | | | site. They might add the word "verify" or use some |
| 'Credit Card Declined Notice' | | | | other word along with the company name. You should |
| 'Unauthorized Account Access' | | | | never click a hyperlink in an email, especially if you don't |
| The text of the message builds upon the initial sense | | | | know who sent it to you. |
| of urgency. A message may state that your account | | | | Knowledge can be power when it comes to |
| will be closed within 24 hours if you don t verify your | | | | protecting yourself from identity theft and Phishing |
| information. Sometimes the messages state that there | | | | scams. Be aware of the tricks a criminal might do to |
| has been suspicious activity on your bank account, or | | | | steal your information, and don't fall prey to them. |
| your credit card has been charged by an undesirable | | | | |