Phishing (pronounced "fishing") attacks have recently been on the rise trying to get information from you. The attention-getting e-mails look like they are coming from a reputable source; however, their intent is to collect or capture your personal information. Their message may ask you to update, validate or confirm your account information. These type of e-mails may direct you to a site that may look reputable but is not. It is a bogus site whose purpose is to trick you into divulging your personal information so that the operator of the site can steal your identity, run up bills, etc.
Please read the following suggestions below to help you avoid getting hooked into phishing scams:
1. DO NOT reply to an e-mail or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information. Also, DO NOT click on the links in the message, even if they appear to be legitimate. DO NOT cut and paste a link from the message into your Web browser. Phishers may make the links look like they go to one place; however, they actually redirect you to another.
2. Some scammers call with a recorded message or send and e-mail that appears to be from an institution and ask you to call a number to update your account. DO NOT call or reply to these e-mails. If you need to call your financial institution, use the number that is found on your statement. You can reach us at 1-888-464-1122.
3. Use anti-virus and anti-spy ware software, as well as a firewall and keep them up to date with releases and patches.
4. DO NOT e-mail personal or financial information. E-mail is not a secure way to send sensitive information.
5. Review your account statements as soon as you receive them and check for unauthorized charges. If you have any unauthorized charges, call your financial institution immediately. You may reach us at 1-888-464-1122.
6. Be extremely cautious when opening any attachment sent in an e-mail or downloading any files from e-mails that you receive, regardless of who sent them to you. These files can contain viruses or other software that can weaken your computer's security.
7. Forward phishing e-mails to spam@uce.gov and to the institution or company impersonated in the phishing e-mail. You may also report phishing e-mails to reportphishing@antiphishing.org. The Anti-Phishing Working Group, a consortium of ISP's, security vendors, financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, use these reports to fight phishing.
8. If you have been scammed, visit the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft web site at ftc.gov/idtheft for important and helpful information.
