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Protecting Yourself Against E-mail Fraud
Internet "phishing" scams are one of the fastest growing frauds
today. Phishing typically involves a bogus e-mail message that uses
legitimate materials, such as a company's web site graphics and logos, in an
attempt to entice e-mail recipients to provide personal financial details, such
as credit card and Social Security numbers.
Financial institutions, government agencies,
retailers, credit card companies and many other organizations have seen their
web site graphics, including corporate logos and other materials, "borrowed" by
fraudsters intent on tricking consumers in to divulging personal financial
information by responding to an official looking, but entirely bogus, e-mail.
Like many cons and scams, phishing preys on the unwary. Here's how you can
keep your guard up, and help fight back against this form of fraud.
TAKE SOME
SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS...
NEVER respond to an unsolicited e-mail that
asks for detailed financial information. Know whom you are dealing with.
REPORT anything suspicious to the proper
authorities. Alert the company or government agency identified in the
suspect e-mail through a web address or telephone number that you know is
legitimate.
CONTACT also the Internet Crime Complain
Center at www.ifccfbi.gov a
partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center, if you
think you have received a phishing e-mail or have been directed to a "phishy-looking"
web site.
STOP - LOOK -
CALL
The Department of Justice advises e-mail users to "stop, look and call" if they
receive a suspicious e-mail.
STOP. Resist the urge to immediately
respond to a suspicious e-mail and to provide the information requested, despite
urgent or exaggerated claims.
LOOK. Read the test of the e-mail
several times and ask yourself why the information requested would really be
needed.
CALL. Telephone the organization
identified, using a number that you know to be legitimate
IF YOU'VE
BEEN PHISHED...
If you believe that you have provided sensitive financial information about
yourself through a phishing scam, you should:
IMMEDIATELY contact your financial
institution
CONTACT the three major credit bureaus and
request that a fraud alert be placed on your credit report. The credit
bureaus and phone numbers are:
Equifax, 1-800-525-6285
Experian, 1-999-397-3742
TransUnion, 1-800-680-7289
FILE A COMPLAINT
with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov
or 1-877-382-4357
Consumers should never provide their personal
information in response to an unsolicited telephone call, fax, letter, e-mail or
internet advertisement, says the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
DON'T GET HOOKED BY
FRAUDULENT PHISHING ATTEMPTS !
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Phone: 816-632-7000 Fax: 816-632-1859 E-Mail:
