What is phishing? Don’t get Hooked!

What is phishing? Simply put it is electronic scamming. The phisher fools you into divulging private identifying information or convinces you to send money. These scam artists have become very sophisticated. They create very convincing e-mails connected to fake web sites that look identical to the original. For example: you receive an e-mail that looks like an official letter from your bank. It has the bank’s logo, address, and very official language stating that the bank needs to "verify" your account information. "There is a problem and we may close your account!" Just click on the convenient website link and fill out the online form. When you click, you are taken to a very official web site. The scam artists have actually copied the bank’s own site. When you arrive you are asked to fill out a form with your bank account number, birth date, password, SSN, etc. When you click OK you are told everything is now fine. Fine that is for the thief. He can now logon to your bank account and withdraw all your hard earned money!

It gets worse. Phishing is now being done with Instant Messaging (IM), text messaging on cell phones, and even old fashioned phone calls. Phishing attempts come as fraudulent messages from on-line stores, on-line auction houses, county, state, and federal governments. Currently Microsoft is taking legal action against 100 phishing gangs based in Europe, the Middle East and Africa! These gangs make money in many different ways. Some use the login information to steal money directly from accounts; others sell the data to those that can use it and some conmen get money for every PC they infect with ad-ware.

Always verify all requests for private information before giving any web-site personal data. Banks, stores, governments and corporations never ask for private information. They will only ask for information after you have requested a new account or asked to edit your information. You came to them first not the other way around.