Phishing is a form of Internet fraud that tries to trick you to reveal identity information, such as usernames, ID numbers, PINs, and passwords. A phishing email message looks like an official notice from a company, government body, or other organization. But the links in the message will send the information you enter back to the scammers who sent it.
Here are some suggestions to avoid being phished:
- Never send personal or financial information via email.
- Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any file from
email you receive, regardless of who sent the message.
- Do not reply to email that asks for personal or financial information.
- Do not click on links in a message.
- Do not cut and paste a link from a message into your Web browser.
- Do not call phone numbers listed in a message.
- To contact an organization with which you do business, use the email
address or phone number printed on your statements, card, or other official
document.
- Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a firewall.
- Update your security software regularly.
- Forward phishing email to the organization impersonated in the message.
- Report phishing email to spam@uce.gov and
to
reportphishing@antiphishing.org.
- Review any statements as soon as you receive them and check for
unauthorized charges.
- If you've been phished, visit the Federal
Trade Commission's Identity Theft
website.
