Protect Yourself From Phishing
Phishing, pronounced "fishing," is the newest form of identity theft. It occurs when someone acts as if they are representing an organization and tries to "hook" the consumer into providing personal information such as Social Security number, account number, password or mother's maiden name. With a name and any of this personally identifying information, the identity thief can apply for credit in the consumer's name and damage the consumer's financial reputation for years to come.
In a typical phishing scam, you receive an email from a business you currently use. The email mentions a problem with your account and asks you to confirm personal information. To encourage your timely response, the email may threaten that your account will be closed or canceled. Emails usually include a link that opens a website nearly identical to the business' website. To protect your financial security, never respond to emails requesting your personal information.
Phishers also use the telephone to hunt for personal information. The scripting is very professional and difficult to distinguish from the actual company. Be cautious of unsolicited telephone calls in which someone asks you to confirm your personal information. If you suspect that your financial account information has been compromised, contact your institution immediately.
A new form of identity theft called "smishing" targets victims through text messages to your cell phone. To protect your financial security, never respond to text messages requesting your personal information.
Here are some easy ways to protect your identity from phishing scams:
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Never respond to emails requesting personal information. |
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Report possible phishing scams to the business immediately. Even if you are unsure of the email's authenticity, report all suspicious emails. |
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Check your credit report annually. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act requires that all three credit reporting agencies provide consumers with one free report every 12 months. |
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Review account transactions online and on account statements. Online account access is available free of charge at many institutions. |
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Always look for the https: on the URL before providing personal account information. |
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Do not trust websites that display a security certificate warning or error message. A security certificate indicates the security and identity of a website. If the certificate has an error, it might indicate that your connection to the website can be intercepted. Do not continue if a security certificate message displays during your Internet activities. |
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