Phishing ? Its Signs and Your Options

Phishing is the act of some individual sending an email to a user in an attempt to scam the user to release personal information. Is it easy to determine if it's a scam? Sometimes ? but not always. I hope to give you enough examples and information to help you to safeguard yourself from these unsavory individuals.

In addition, sometimes the email is sent to malicious software so as to render your computer helpless. Thus, it is important that you do not click on the link they provide, because that is the trigger that will load the software to your system.

EXAMPLES OF PHISHING

You receive hundreds of emails in your mailbox, but one email catches your eye ? it directs you to a website, requesting that you need to update your personal information. It requests such personal information as:

passwords
credit card numbers
social security number
bank account numbers

"It appears to be legitimate", you say to yourself. And you also notice that the emails are from companies that you have been doing business with for a while. Warning: The website could be bogus.

Here are several examples of phishing in action.

1. E-mails stating they are from E-bay and they feel that your account may have been compromised and would like you to verify your information with they so conveniently supply. DO NOT click on it.

2. E-mails from Paypal or your bank asking that you verify your information because they feel that your account has been compromised, or heaven forbid, suspended. Same scenario, different company. DO NOT click on the link.

3. E-mail that states that an unauthorized transaction has occurred on your account. Please click the link below and confirm your identity. DO NOT.

4. Here's a work at home scam ? We have seen your resume on Monster and feel you would fit our position. If you are interested, please go to our website, look over the experience required and submit your resume if you have this background. Website is professional looking, offer looks good ? but it could be a scam.

WHAT ARE THEY AFTER

In the above examples they are after information about you, be it passwords, credit cards, social security numbers, anything that can identify you ? and that which they can use to profit from you.

The job email is used to verify that the email address is a true blue, active email address. What do they do with this info ? they sell these accounts to spammers for good money. They need to verify your email address-because if the spammers come up empty ? this person's business is dead.

HOW TO VERIFY SAFELY

1. If they want you to verify your account, do not cut and paste, or use the link they provide in the email. Close your Internet session, open a new session and enter the site that you have on record to verify.

2. Emails requesting resumes ? Verify their account before you send your resume. When verifying ? these red flags should be considered:

1) If they are hesitant to provide a phone number ? might be a scam. 2) If their business address is not verifiable ?might be a scam. 3) If the website is new ? might be a scam. 4) If they use a large company's name-and that company never heard of them ? might be a scam. 5) Again, verify this information before you send your resume.

WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Here are some quick tips to protect you and your computer system.

1. Use anti-virus software and a firewall ? keep them up to date.

2. If you have a broadband connection make sure you have a firewall in place.

3. Don't email personal or financial information.

4. Before providing personal information ? search to see if the site is secure ? look for a lock icon. However, remember not all phishers are stupid ? in fact, they could be computer savvy enough to forge security icons. Thus, look for a site whose link looks like this: https://www.somename.com -- this shows that it is a secure site.

5. Coupons from respected companies ? Verify that it is a true-blue coupon from the company ? I had one coupon sent to my email address from what I thought was Staples. Verified it with Staples ? not a coupon honored by Staples. When on the Internet ? if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it still may not be a duck!

6. When making transactions on the Internet ? be it online banking, Paypal, Internet Gold, etc. ? complete your transaction, log out of the website, and close out of your Internet Explorer-and then continue with a new session of Internet Explorer.

WHERE TO FORWARD SPAM THAT IS PHISHNG

If you encounter spam that is phishing, or are a victim of a phishing scam, you can forward the information to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank or organization that the email may have stated they are from. In many cases, the other organizations have information on their website where you can report the attempted scam.

In addition, if you have been scammed, and you wish to file a complaint ? go to ftc.gov.

To conclude, no one is immune to spam or a scam. But try to be ever vigilant and do your due diligence with anything you do on the Internet. But being human is a scammer's hope ? they know that most will ignore the bait, but some will be tempted. So, if you so humanly slip, and succumb to a phishing scam, you can report them to ftc.gov.

Vickie J Scanlon has a BBA degree in Administrative Management and Marketing. Visit her site at: http://www.myaffiliateplace.biz for free tools, articles, ebooks, how to info, affiliate opportunities, products and services ? to meet your budget and needs.

---

Viruses and Worms: The Problems and Their Solutions

History and BackgroundThe virus was one of the first ever... Read More

Phishing - A High Tech Identity Theft With A Low Tech Solution

Have you ever got an email asking you to confirm... Read More

6 Ways To Prevent Identity Theft

These six ways to prevent identity theft offer you valuable... Read More

An Open Letter From a So-called Stupid

Someone recently told me, "You would have to be a... Read More

How to Thwart the Barbarian Spyware!

Today,on most internet user's computers, we have the ability to... Read More

Top Five Online Scams

The top five online scams on the Internet hit nearly... Read More

Virus and Adware - Fix them Both!

We all get the odd virus now and then, but... Read More

Preventing Online Identity Theft

Identity theft is one of the most common criminal acts... Read More

Online Shopping: 10 Tips For Safe Online Shopping

Have you ever bought a product or service from the... Read More

Five Excellent Indie Encryption And Security Solutions You Have Not Heard About

Geek SuperheroGeek Superhero watches your computer for changes, immediately notifying... Read More

Beware of Imitations! Security, Internet Scams, and the African Real Estate Agenda

Fishing on the Internet has come a long way. However,... Read More

Criminals are Fishing For Your Identity

What is Phishing? In a typical Phishing attack, a criminal... Read More

The Never Ending Spyware Story

It's been with us since 1993, it's gotten more intrusive,... Read More

New CipherSend Online Security Service Thwarts Email Address Theft And Soothes Password Fatigue

In 1997, I decided after 15 years as a practicing... Read More

Adware and Spyware: The Problems and Their Solutions

The Threat10 years ago you could probably have run no... Read More

7 Ways to Spot a PayPal Scam E-Mail

Paypal is a great site and is used by many... Read More

Instant Messaging ? Expressway for Identity Theft, Trojan Horses, Viruses, and Worms

Never before with Instant Messaging (IM) has a more vital... Read More

How Free Scripts Can Create Security Problems

With the Internet entering our lives in such an explosive... Read More

Phishing, Fraudulent, and Malicious Websites

Whether we like it or not, we are all living... Read More

Parental Control - Dangers To Your Child Online & Internet Child Safety Tips

Did you know...? 1 in 5 children who use computer... Read More

Identity Theft - Dont Blame The Internet

Identity theft ? also known as ID theft, identity fraud... Read More

Web Browsing - Collected Information

You may not realize it, but as you are surfing... Read More

Computer Viruses and Other Nasties: How to Protect Your Computer from These Invaders

Can you protect your computer from all possible viruses and... Read More

Internet Small Business and Fraud

Be careful of sites that promise to send you "instant... Read More

Lets Talk About Antivirus Software!

Nowadays more and more people are using a computer. A... Read More

How To Give Away Your Personal Information

Identity Theft and Your Personal Information Identity theft is... Read More

Reducing Fraudulent Transations ? 5 Simple Ways To Protect Yourself

The money being spent online is steadily growing. With billions... Read More

Be Aware of Phishing Scams!

If you use emails actively in your communication, you must... Read More

Consumers: Shop Online and Get Information Safely

Do you really have to know how feeds work? Not... Read More

Technology and Techniques Used in Industrial Espionage

Industrial Espionage. These methodologies are being used on a daily... Read More

Make Money Online - Defend Against The Latest Scam

First, let's do a little recap'. As I stated in... Read More

Passwords or Pass Phrase? Protecting your Intellectual Property

Much has been said on the theory of password protection... Read More

Website Security - Creating a Bulletproof Site in 5 Easy Steps

When it comes to a secure website and passwords it... Read More