Beware and be warned about Phishing scams
Tue Jun 30, 2009 | | Posted in Data Security
Chances are you have heard of Phishing. If not, Wikipedia has excellent definition of it. Read it and understand it.
Protect yourself from Phishing scams
Phishing is the mass e-mailing of messages that falsely claim to come from a legitimate business. These messages often provide links to phony Web sites, where you are asked to supply personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, or bank account numbers.
Never enter personal information unless you are sure the website is legitimate. You should also be certain the site is encrypted. Look for the letter “s” at the end of “https” at the beginning of the URL address. This ensures that the site is running in secure mode.
How to recognize Phishing E-Mail
Phishing messages have evolved drastically over the last year, and they are often difficult to recognize. The creators now incorporate realistic company logos and graphics, provide links to the real company’s privacy policies, and even include “legal disclaimer language” at the bottom.
To help determine if an e-mail is part of a phishing scam, ask yourself the following:
- Do I have a relationship with this company?
- Would I expect this company to contact me this way?
- Would I expect this company to use this tone or make this request?
If you are not sure at all, contact the company by phone.
Sharpen your Phishing detection skills
Sonic Wall has pulled together 10 sample e-mail messages that have appeared in people’s mailboxes. Try the Sonic WALL Phishing and Spam IQ Quiz to see if you can identify phishing scams from legitimate e-mails.
Don’t open unexpected E-Mail
Be cautious of e-mail and attachments – even if they look like they are from a friend – unless you are expecting them or know what they contain. On the same token, most e-mail is not secure or encrypted and should not be trusted to send personal or financial information.
Additional information
Additional information can be found at Anti-Phishing Website or the Government website for consumers.
In a Nutshell
Be aware of the Phishing scams. Be more cautious than usual to open a suspicious email. Never ever give out your personal information unless you are completely sure of the legitimacy of the email sender.
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- Things you can do to prevent identity theft ONLine
Information contained herein is general in nature, and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Talk to your financial adviser.
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