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.

---

Protecting Your Home Both Inside and Out

If you are a parent, you have probably wondered at... Read More

40 Million People Hacked - YOU as Identity Theft Victim

Saturday, MasterCard blamed a vendor of ALL credit card providers... Read More

3 Things You Must Know About Spyware

1)Spyware is on your system. Like it or not, statistically... Read More

A Painless Plagiarism Solution

A crowded marketplace can lead to unethical webmasters using underhand... Read More

Burning Bridges is Bad, But Firewalls are Good

When you signed up for that ultra-fast DSL or Cable... Read More

Computer Viruses - How to Remove a Computer Virus from Your Computer

Computer viruses infect millions of computers every day. Viruses can... Read More

Dont Fall Victim to Internet Fraud-10 Tips for Safer Surfing

The Internet offers a global marketplace for consumers and businesses.... Read More

SPYWARE - Whos Watching Who?

I am in the midst of Oscar Wilde's The Picture... Read More

Spyware Attacks! Windows Safe Mode is No Longer Safe

Many of us have run into an annoying and time-consuming... Read More

Internet Privacy

Over the past few years as the internet has become... Read More

Its War I Tell You!

There are ways to insure security though. You can get... Read More

Wireless Network Security

Working from home has its advantages, including no commute, a... Read More

Road Warrior At Risk: The Dangers Of Ad-Hoc Wireless Networking

Airport Menace: The Wireless Peeping Tom As a network... Read More

Virus Nightmare..Lessons Learned

I got a virus the other day, Thursday I believe... Read More

Viruses and Worms, Protection from Disaster

Virus damage estimated at $55 billion in 2003. "SINGAPORE -... Read More

How To Prevent Spyware Attacking Your Computer

Spyware is software or hardware installed on a computer without... Read More

Secrets On Security: A Gentle Introduction To Cryptography

Let us take the example of scrambling an egg. First,... Read More

Be Alert! Others Can Catch Your Money Easily!

So called phishers try to catch the information about the... Read More

Dont Miss Information Because of Misinformation

It has been said that with the wealth of information,... Read More

Another Fine Mess!

I'm in the Anti-Spyware business, and I'm doing a lot... Read More

Virus Prevention 101

Blaster, Welchia, Sobig, W32, Backdoor, Trojan, Melissa, Klez, Worm, Loveletter,... Read More

Lets Talk About Antivirus Software!

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

The Top Twelve Threats No Computer User Should Ignore

The internet is undoubtedly a fantastic resource for families and... Read More

Phishing, Fraudulent, and Malicious Websites

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

How to Protect Yourself Against Online Criminals

Credit card fraud is a growing problem for online businesses... Read More

Preventing Online Identity Theft

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

What is Hacking? Are You a Hacker?

WHAT IS HACKING?Hacking, sometimes known as "computer crime" has only... Read More

A New Low

A new variation of the Nigerian Scam theme ... Read More

The Saga of the Annoying Adware

When we think of adware, what comes to mind are... 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

Personal Firewalls - Secure Your Computer

There has not been a time in the history of... Read More

Watching the Watchers: Detection and Removal of Spyware

If spyware were a person and he set himself up... Read More

Spy Scanners ? Don?t Compromise your Privacy

Spies, spyware, internet parasites are among what they are usually... Read More