With the growing number of people using the Internet to access personal account information, it is important to stay informed about current Internet scams to be sure that you do not become a victim.
“Phishing” is a high-tech scam that uses spam or pop-up messages to deceive you into disclosing your credit card numbers, account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), phishers send an email or pop-up message that claims to be from a business or organization that you deal with – such as your Internet service provider (ISP), financial institution, online payment service, or government agency. The message usually says that you need to “update” or “validate” your account information. The message directs you to a Web site that looks just like a legitimate organization’s site, but it isn’t. The purpose of the site is to trick you into divulging your personal information so the operators can steal your identity and run up bills or commit crimes in your name. The following tips will help you to avoid getting hooked by a phishing scam:
- If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply or click on the link in the message. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via email.
- Don’t ever email personal or financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information.
- Review credit card and account statements as soon as you receive them to determine whether there are any unauthorized charges.
- Use anti-virus software and keep it up to date. Some phishing emails contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities on the Internet without your knowledge. Anti-virus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files.
- Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them.
- Report suspicious activity to the FTC at www.ftc.gov, www.ftc.gov (spanish) or by calling toll-free, 1-877-382-4357.
For more information about current Internet scams and how you can protect yourself, visit the links below:
phishing.org
consumer.gov
onguardonline.gov
mcafee.com
symantec.com
BALANCE ID Theft Solutions
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