How To Avoid The Hook.
| You’ve probably heard about identity theft – people stealing other people’s personal information to use for illegal purposes. In a new tactic called “phishing,” ID thieves trick people into providing their social security numbers, financial account numbers, PIN numbers, mothers’ maiden names, and other personal information by pretending to be someone they’re not. Avoid getting hooked by a phisher by knowing what to look for and taking basic security precautions. |
The most common form of Phishing is through E-mails pretending to be from a legitimate retailer, These Include:
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The sender asks to “Confirm” Or "Update" your personal information for some made-up reason: Your Account is about to be closed, Suspended or Deleted, An email has been attached, Unauthorised Access, or your information has been lost because of a Hardware Failure.
Another tactic phishers use is to say they’re from the Fraud Departments of well-known companies and ask to verify your information because they suspect you may be a victim of identity theft! In one case, a phisher claimed to be from a state lottery commission and requested people’s banking information to deposit their “winnings” in their accounts.
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If You Have Been A Victim! Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft Clearinghouse, www.consumer.gov/idtheft or 877-438-4338, TDD 202-326-2502.
Report Fraud and Phishing Websites. Tell the company or agency that the phisher was impersonating. You can also report the problem to law enforcement agencies through the National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch, or 800-876-7060, TDD 202-835-0778. The information you provide helps to stop identity theft. |
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Millersmiles
©2005 Sean Bowtell
Published 15 November 2005.
