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| How Not to Get Hooked by a 'Phishing' Scam |
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| 02/14/2006 |
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Internet scammers casting about for people's financial information have a new way to lure unsuspecting victims: They go "phishing." Phishing, also called "carding," is a high-tech scam that uses spam to deceive consumers into disclosing their credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security numbers, passwords, and other sensitive information.
"PHISHING" is the fastest growing and largest fraud scheme in United States history, according to Antiphishing.org, a website committed to wiping out Internet scams and fraud.
According to a survey by the Federal Trade Commission, nearly 25 million Americans - 11.2 percent of the adult population - experience consumer fraud each year. This year, Minnesota bankers are targeting phishing scams and distributing tips on how to spot and report them. Phishing scams involve a criminal sending an email claiming to be from a business or organization with which consumers are familiar. The message may ask to "update," "validate," or "confirm" account information. These emails trick consumers into divulging personal information so the criminals can steal identities.
The FTC suggests these tips to help 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 do not ask for this information via email.
- Use anti-virus software and a firewall, and keep them up to date. Some phishing emails contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities on the Internet without your knowledge.
- Don't email personal or financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information.
- Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to check for unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.
- Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them. These files can contain viruses or other software that can weaken your computer's security.
- Forward spam that is phishing for information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank or organization impersonated in the phishing email.
- If you believe you have been scammed, file your complaint at ftc.gov, and then visit the FTC's Identity Theft website at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. Victims of phishing can become victims of identity theft.
Visit www.ftc.gov/spam to learn other ways to avoid email scams and deal with deceptive spam.
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The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
Feb 2006
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