What's Phishing?

---

Phishing is when thieves send out spam or pop-up messages to many Internet users at once. These messages ask people to provide information on their bank accounts, credit cards, online payment service, or shopping site passwords so they can be "updated." They trick you into divulging your personal information in order to steal your identity and run up bills or commit crimes in your name--they're "phishing" for information, hoping that someone will take the bait!

Some phishing emails contain links to official-looking Web pages. Other times the emails ask the consumer to download and submit an electronic form. A phishing email may state that your account information has expired, been compromised, or lost and that you need to immediately resend it to the company. Never enter any of your personal or financial information that is requested from you in an email!

In addtion...

• Don’t click on any link inside of a suspicious email.
• Never enter personal information in a pop-up screen.
• Don’t click on links that ask for your personal information.
• If someone contacts you and says you’ve been a victim of fraud, verify the person’s identity before you provide any personal information.

---

"Phishing." OnGuard Online. Federal Trade Commission, Feb. 2008. Web. 25 June 2010. >.