Phishing for your information

A new twist to identity theft is “Phishing”.
Phishing is an e-mail scam that involves official looking messages, directing consumers to official looking websites to correct or update financial information. Phishing victims receive bogus messages from a familiar company via email. These familiar companies can be online auctioneers, financial institutions, mortgage brokers, a credit card company or a Web retailer. Sometimes “phishers” will hide behind a simple “customer service request” directing subjects to click onto a Website. This is supposedly to resolve a glitch or problem within their account; perhaps reset a password or personal identification number. It can also be an offer to purchase a product or service.

Phishing experts are looking for anyone to catch.
The fake e-mail often starts with a blast to millions of randomly selected e-mail addresses. The goal is to cast the net wide and lure in a few unsuspecting people who believe the e-mail is real. They are fishing for information...yours. Your credit card number, passwords, social security numbers, etc. Anything that can be used to steal your identity.

Phishing is growing.
The FBI Internet Fraud Complaint Center reports a steady increase in complaints involving phishing, according to National Credit Union Association (NCUA). Most consumers do not respond to the bogus e-mail because they do not have a business relationship with the company, but about 5% will respond and could be added to the almost two million adults who already reported giving out their financial or personal information.

How can you protect yourself?
Don’t answer personal information on the website, unless you initiate the contact. Any legitimate company that you do business with would already know your information and would not need to ask. Make sure to report any suspicious activity on your account. If you are a victim of identity theft, report the theft ASAP to the credit union, credit bureaus, and credit card companies. Make sure to review your financial records and be on the look out for scam artists fishing for your information.