How To Avoid Phishing Scams
Have you have received a phishing email directing you to visit a familiar website where you are asked to update your personal information? They are becoming very dangerous because so many people are falling for the phishing scam.
Phishing (pronounced "fishing") is defined as the act of sending an email to a recipient deceptively claiming to be an established, legitimate business. The intent of the phishing hacker is to scam the email recipient into surrendering their private information, to ultimately steal their identity.
The website tells you they need you to verify or update your passwords, credit card numbers, social security number, or even your bank account number. You recognize the business name as one that you've conducted business with in the past. So, you click on the convenient "take me there" link and proceed to provide all the information they have requested. Unfortunately, you find out much later that the website is fictitious. It was created with the sole intent to steal your personal information. Unfortunately, you have just been scammed by a phishing email.
It is very hard to spot an email phishing for information. At first glance, the email looks like it is from a legitimate company. The "From" field of the e-mail may have the .com address of the company mentioned in the e-mail. The clickable link even appears to take you to the company's website, when in fact, it is a make-believe website built to look identical to the legitimate site.
Many of these people who are phishing are professional criminals. They have spent a lot of time creating emails that look authentic. You need to review all emails requesting personal information carefully. When reviewing your email remember that the "From Field" can be easily changed by the sender. While it may look like it is coming from a .com you do business with, looks can be misleading.
Also keep in mind that the phishing scammer will go all out in trying to make their email look as legitimate as possible. They will even copy logos or images from the official site to use in their emails. But most of all, they like to include a clickable link that the email recipient can follow to conveniently update their information.
A good way to make sure the legitimacy of the link is real is to point at the link with your mouse. Then, look in the bottom left hand screen of your computer. The actual website address to which you are being directed will show up for you to view. It is a very quick and easy way to research if you are being directed to a legitimate site.
Here is a phishing tip that is the golden rule to follow. Never click the links within the text of the e-mail, and always delete the e-mail immediately. Once you have deleted the e-mail, empty the trash box in your e-mail accounts as well. If you are truly think that you are missing an important notice regarding one of your accounts, then type the full URL address of the website into your browser. At least then you can be confident that you are, in fact being directed to the true and legitimate website and not becoming a victim of the phishing scam.
Copyright © 2006 Spyware Information.com All Rights Reserved.
Read more Spyware articles at EZ Articles Directory.
Phishing (pronounced "fishing") is defined as the act of sending an email to a recipient deceptively claiming to be an established, legitimate business. The intent of the phishing hacker is to scam the email recipient into surrendering their private information, to ultimately steal their identity.
The website tells you they need you to verify or update your passwords, credit card numbers, social security number, or even your bank account number. You recognize the business name as one that you've conducted business with in the past. So, you click on the convenient "take me there" link and proceed to provide all the information they have requested. Unfortunately, you find out much later that the website is fictitious. It was created with the sole intent to steal your personal information. Unfortunately, you have just been scammed by a phishing email.
It is very hard to spot an email phishing for information. At first glance, the email looks like it is from a legitimate company. The "From" field of the e-mail may have the .com address of the company mentioned in the e-mail. The clickable link even appears to take you to the company's website, when in fact, it is a make-believe website built to look identical to the legitimate site.
Many of these people who are phishing are professional criminals. They have spent a lot of time creating emails that look authentic. You need to review all emails requesting personal information carefully. When reviewing your email remember that the "From Field" can be easily changed by the sender. While it may look like it is coming from a .com you do business with, looks can be misleading.
Also keep in mind that the phishing scammer will go all out in trying to make their email look as legitimate as possible. They will even copy logos or images from the official site to use in their emails. But most of all, they like to include a clickable link that the email recipient can follow to conveniently update their information.
A good way to make sure the legitimacy of the link is real is to point at the link with your mouse. Then, look in the bottom left hand screen of your computer. The actual website address to which you are being directed will show up for you to view. It is a very quick and easy way to research if you are being directed to a legitimate site.
Here is a phishing tip that is the golden rule to follow. Never click the links within the text of the e-mail, and always delete the e-mail immediately. Once you have deleted the e-mail, empty the trash box in your e-mail accounts as well. If you are truly think that you are missing an important notice regarding one of your accounts, then type the full URL address of the website into your browser. At least then you can be confident that you are, in fact being directed to the true and legitimate website and not becoming a victim of the phishing scam.
Copyright © 2006 Spyware Information.com All Rights Reserved.
posted by Gary at 9:26 PM
<< Home