here is no doubt that obtain an individual's personal
identity theft is a growing identity data and financial
problem and we should all account information.
try to educate ourselves to avoid Social-engineering schemes use
being a victim of this often fraudulent e-mails which attempt
devastating crime. It seems that to direct consumers to
criminals are using increasingly counterfeit websites, often
ingenious methods to gain access perfectly replicating legitimate
to our private and valuable business sites to trick
personal information and computer recipients into releasing
users must be aware of criminal financial data such as credit
information gathering techniques card numbers, account passwords,
known as phishing. user names and social security
numbers. Hijacking brand names of
You may have heard about phishing banks, online retailers and
scams in the news recently credit card companies, phishers
because so many have fallen prey regularly obtain this private
to this clever methodology data. Technical subterfuge
employed by tech savvy criminals. schemes usually plant spyware and
We are all busy in todays fast crimeware onto user computers to
paced world and it's hard to keep access personal data directly,
up with every new threat and most often utlizing Trojan
development so the purpose of keylogger spyware.
this article is to describe what
phishing is, and how you can What can we do to avoid such
avoid being a victim. clever deceptions? First of all
just knowing that the threat
Phishing attacks employ social exists is very important and many
engineering and technical victims report that they had
subterfuge in the attempt to never heard of phishing before
becoming a victims. In addition email request is authentic and
there are several practical companies today are aware of
precautions we can all take to phishing threats and will
minimize our exposure to risk. generally appreciate being
informed of a potential problem.
1. Be wary of any email
containing urgent requests for 3. Financial information should
financial information suggesting only be communicated through a
your immediate response is secure website or by telephone
required, statements designed to and never by an email request.
upset and excite the respondent Secure websites always have the
are often included to elicit a https:// preceding the web
quick reply. These emails often address rather than just http://
demand user names and passwords in the browser address window.
as well as SSN's. Legitimate
businesses never ask for 4. Check your online accounts on
confidential data via email and a regular basis even if you have
none of this information should no transactions, dormant and
ever be sent by email as security little used accounts are common
is severely compromised. targets for online predators.
Carefully review your credit card
2. If you question the statements for unauthorized
authenticity of an email don't transactions and make sure your
use the links embedded in the shred them if not retained for
email to access the company your records.
webpage, instead type the URL of
the company in your browser to 5. Make sure your browser is
insure you are looking at the updated regularly with the latest
legitimate website. You can also security patches and you should
phone the company to insure an also have an anti-spyware program
installed and running at all to avoid your exposure to the
times. identity theft problem known as
phishing.
Take these necessary precautions
About the Author:
Jim Hutton researches and writes on the subject of identity theft and you can view the entire Identity Theft Article Library at: Identity Theft Prevention
Read more articles by:
Jim Hutton
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
