Phishing Scams Can Affect Anyone

A phishing scam can affect anyone. Whether you are online or offline or whether it is by email or phone a phishing scam may be sitting in your email or on your computer without your even knowing it.

Though business is taking an active role in trying to prevent phishing, the consumer must always be ever alert and informed. I first begin my defining what phishing is, the type of phishing schemes and how you can protect yourself.

What is Phishing?

For those new to the word phishing is, let me define it. Phishing is an attempt by the sender to have the receiver of the email or text message to release their personal information. The email or text message will have the name of a company that you do business with on a regular basis. The sender, is hoping that you look at the business name alone, and without thinking, click on the link to find out what the business wants from you.

If you click on the link and enter your password and user-id into the website, THEY created, you have just become a victim of a phishing scam. How were you fooled? The skilled phisher can make the fake website home page look and feel like it is the real website. Can you tell if the site is authentic? Yes.

In most cases, if the site is a fraud you'll find that not all of the web pages within the website are complete. Or, you'll find that you cannot reach your usual destination when you hit one of the links within the website. Why? They cannot duplicate the whole site.

If you find yourself on a fraudulent website, you will need to contact the business immediately. Tell them of the situation so that you change your password and user-id
and, follow whatever other safety procedures the business may request of you.

Typical Phishing Email

A typical phishing email will try to prompt you to action. How do they do this? Let's say you have a Paypal account. In this case, you may see in the subject line the following call to action:

"Verification of Paypal Account Needed".

Within the email, they will explain to you that your Paypal account may have been compromised and to please click on the link to verify the information. You should instantly become suspicious. Paypal or any other financial institution will not give you a link to verify your information.

Though you may feel an urgent sense of dread, and may be immediately tempted to click on the link, DO NOT. And, do not cut and paste the link into your browser. It will not protect you. Instead, use the link that you usually use to contact the company.

There is also reason why you should not click on the link. Some phishing fraudsters have resorted to creating a link that will place a trojan on your site. It will then sit and wait til you go into your a particular site- (Bank site, for example) and receive the information.

A new phishing scam is now emerging. It is called, the phone phishing scam.

Phone Phishing-A New Scam

Phone phishing is a new method in which cyber-thieves are attempting to pull personal data from unsuspecting victims. This is how it goes down.

You may get an email that requests that you use the phone number provided, to verify your "compromised account". Or, you may receive a direct call from an individual or an automated message requesting that you call another number to verify activity on your credit card, etc. What can you do to verify the information?

DO NOT call the phone number provided. Instead, use the phone number on your credit card or hard-copy invoice and ask for the fraud department. This serves two purposes:

1) you can verify whether your account has truly been compromised and;

2) you can report the attempted fraudulent activity to the business in question-if you find that to be the case.

Be aware, phone phishing scams are growing, so all must be vigilant and guarded about your personal data.

What personal information do they want?

The fraudsters are after your personal information. Depending upon the information, they can sell the information to spammers for good money, or use the information for their own financial gain. What are they looking for:

passwords
credit card numbers
social security numbers
bank account numbers
dates of birth
names
addresses

How To Protect Yourself Against Phishing-A Review

Here are some common sense methods of how you can protect yourself against phishing.

1. Even if the email looks legitimate do not click the link, or copy and paste the link to verify. Instead, use the link that you typically use when conducting business with the company and verify. If you have any questions, notify the business directly to verify
their request.

2. Internet Explorer is fine, however, Firefox has proven to be more effective at identifying phishing sites. Make sure your browser is updated with the latest security.

3. If online, make sure your operating system has all the latest security updates.

4. Check the email over, look for typos, poor grammar, etc.

5. If it is a phone phishing attempt-do not use the phone number given. Instead, go to your hard copy invoice and phone the number provided. Or if it is a credit card, use the phone number on the credit card and verify the information.

6. Make sure you utilize Anti-virus or Internet Security software. If you are using your computer a lot during the day, update your anti-virus and do a quick scan to protect yourself.

7. If you have broadband, make sure you have a firewall in place.

Where To Forward Phishing Attempts

If you feel you have become a victim of a phishing scam it is wise to first contact the company, bank or organization where the email was stating that it was doing business. The company will give you the steps they will follow, and the steps you need to follow to protect yourself. In addition, the company may request that you file a complaint with ftc.gov.

To conclude, never be complacent with your personal data. Protect yourself, know the rules, and stay up-to-date on what's happening in the areas of fraud and scams online and off. In this case, ignorance is your enemy and the fraudster's golden opportunity for riches.

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