| In all probability, you would have received a mail | | | | to the website with whom you do business, and |
| at some time or the other, asking you to visit a | | | | even the website address mentioned in the email |
| familiar website - with whom you are doing | | | | will be the same as the financial institution's, but it |
| regular business - and update your personal | | | | will actually link to the phisher's website. |
| information. When you open this website, you will | | | | Phishers are high-tech, professional criminals. They |
| be asked to verify or update your passwords, | | | | spend considerable time and effort in replicating a |
| credit card numbers, social security number, or | | | | financial institution's website and to build an email |
| even your bank account number. If you're not | | | | template that appears genuine. The logos, colors |
| familiar with the ways of the Internet, you will | | | | and taglines used on a phiser's email and website |
| head out there and update your information as | | | | are deceptively similar to the main website. Then |
| you have been directed to, without smelling a rat. | | | | these phishers spend time and money in stealing |
| Well, if you have followed such an email and have | | | | databases and then emailing the customers in the |
| updated your personal/financial information on a | | | | database, and asking them to update their |
| website that seems similar to a website with | | | | financial information. |
| whom you regularly do business, then, my friend, | | | | If you suspect you have received a phishing |
| you have been "phished"! Your personal and | | | | email, then here's one neat trick to figure out if |
| financial information is now the property of | | | | the link given in the email is fraudulent or the real |
| hackers/phishers who will misuse it as soon as | | | | thing - Just point your mouse at the link and look |
| possible, causing you grave financial distress, loss | | | | at the bottom-left hand side of your screen. The |
| of face and a bad credit rating. | | | | real website address where you are being |
| Phishing (which is pronounced as "fishing") refers | | | | directed will show up there. This is a quick and |
| to email scams that are aimed at identity theft. | | | | easy way to check if you are being directed to a |
| You are sent an email on the lines of emails sent | | | | legitimate website. |
| to you from banks, credit card companies, etc. | | | | Here's one rule you must follow - never click on |
| These "phishing" emails then ask you to visit a | | | | links within emails unless you're dead sure the |
| website and update information such as | | | | email is from a genuine party. If you suspect the |
| passwords, usernames, social security numbers, | | | | mail is from a phisher, delete it immediately and |
| credit card numbers. And like we said before, | | | | empty the trash folder. If you feel you are |
| once you do that, there'll be hell to pay. | | | | missing some emails or notices from an important |
| The "From" field of the phisher's e-mail will carry | | | | financial website, then do take the trouble to type |
| the real email address of the financial institution | | | | its entire URL address in your browser - You will |
| you deal with regularly. Even the website these | | | | at least be confident that you are visiting the |
| phishing emails ask you to visit will look very close | | | | legitimate website. |