Phishing/Identity Theft
What is it?
Phishing is an Internet scam that uses spam, web pages, chat rooms, instant messaging or pop-up messages to deceive you into disclosing your credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information.
Phishing attacks use 'spoofed' e-mails and fraudulent websites designed to fool recipients into divulging personal financial data. By hijacking the trusted brands of well-known banks, online retailers and credit card companies, phishers are able to convince up to 5% of recipients to respond to them.
How does it work?
The number and sophistication of phishing scams sent out to consumers is continuing to increase dramatically. While online banking and e-commerce is very safe, as a general rule you should be careful about giving out your personal financial information over the Internet.
Here are some recommendations to help you and those in your care, avoid becoming an Identity Theft/Phishing victim:.
Be suspicious of any email with urgent requests for personal financial information.
Unless the email is digitally signed, you can't be sure it wasn't forged or 'spoofed'
Phishers typically include upsetting or exciting (but false) statements in their emails to get people to react immediately.
They typically ask for information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, social security numbers, etc.
Phishing emails are typically NOT personalized, while valid messages from your bank or e-commerce company generally are.
Don't EVER use the links in an email to get to any web page. If you suspect the message might not be authentic call the company on the telephone, or log onto the website directly by typing in the Web address in your browser or using your own bookmarked link...
Avoid filling out forms in email messages that ask for personal financial information
You should only communicate information such as credit card numbers or account information via a secure website or the telephone.
Report "phishing" or "spoofed" e-mails and any websites you see to the following groups:
Forward the email to Unity Community .
Forward the email to the "abuse" and "spoof" email address at the company that is being spoofed.
When forwarding spoofed messages, always choose the option to 'send as an attachment' so that the entire original email with its original header information remains intact.
Phishing is an Internet scam that uses spam, web pages, chat rooms, instant messaging or pop-up messages to deceive you into disclosing your credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information.
Phishing attacks use 'spoofed' e-mails and fraudulent websites designed to fool recipients into divulging personal financial data. By hijacking the trusted brands of well-known banks, online retailers and credit card companies, phishers are able to convince up to 5% of recipients to respond to them.
How does it work?
The number and sophistication of phishing scams sent out to consumers is continuing to increase dramatically. While online banking and e-commerce is very safe, as a general rule you should be careful about giving out your personal financial information over the Internet.
Here are some recommendations to help you and those in your care, avoid becoming an Identity Theft/Phishing victim:.
Be suspicious of any email with urgent requests for personal financial information.
Unless the email is digitally signed, you can't be sure it wasn't forged or 'spoofed'
Phishers typically include upsetting or exciting (but false) statements in their emails to get people to react immediately.
They typically ask for information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, social security numbers, etc.
Phishing emails are typically NOT personalized, while valid messages from your bank or e-commerce company generally are.
Don't EVER use the links in an email to get to any web page. If you suspect the message might not be authentic call the company on the telephone, or log onto the website directly by typing in the Web address in your browser or using your own bookmarked link...
Avoid filling out forms in email messages that ask for personal financial information
You should only communicate information such as credit card numbers or account information via a secure website or the telephone.
Report "phishing" or "spoofed" e-mails and any websites you see to the following groups:
Forward the email to Unity Community .
Forward the email to the "abuse" and "spoof" email address at the company that is being spoofed.
When forwarding spoofed messages, always choose the option to 'send as an attachment' so that the entire original email with its original header information remains intact.
Tags: phishing/identity, theft
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