| Who hasn't received an email directing them | | | | criminals. They have spent a lot of time in |
| to visit a familiar website where they are | | | | creating emails that look authentic. Users |
| being asked to update their personal | | | | need to review all emails requesting personal |
| information? The website needs you to verify | | | | information carefully. When reviewing your |
| or update your passwords, credit card | | | | email remember that the "From Field" can be |
| numbers, social security number, or even your | | | | easily changed by the sender. While it may |
| bank account number. You recognize the | | | | look like it is coming from a .com you do |
| business name as one that you've conducted | | | | business with, looks can be deceiving. |
| business with in the past. So, you click on | | | | |
| the convenient take me there link and proceed | | | | Also keep in mind that the phisher will go |
| to provide all the information they have | | | | all out in trying to make their email look as |
| requested. | | | | legitimate as possible. They will even copy |
| | | | logos or images from the official site to use |
| Unfortunately, you find out much later that | | | | in their emails. Finally, they like to |
| the website is bogus. It was created with | | | | include a clickable link that the recipient |
| the sole intent to steal your personal | | | | can follow to conveniently update their |
| information. You, my friend, have just been | | | | information. |
| phished. | | | | |
| | | | A great way to check the legitimacy of the |
| Phishing (pronounced as fishing) is defined | | | | link is to point at the link with your mouse. |
| as the act of sending an email to a recipient | | | | Then, look in the bottom left hand screen of |
| falsely claiming to have an established, | | | | your computer. The actual website address to |
| legitimate business. The intent of the | | | | which you are being directed will show up for |
| phisher is to scam the recipient into | | | | you to view. It is a very quick and easy way |
| surrendering their private information, and | | | | to check if you are being directed to a |
| ultimately steal your identity. | | | | legitimate site. |
| | | | |
| It is not at easy as you think to spot an | | | | Finally, follow the golden rule. Never, |
| email phishing for information. At first | | | | ever, click the links within the text of the |
| glance, the email may look like it is from a | | | | e-mail, and always delete the e-mail |
| legitimate company. The "From" field of the | | | | immediately. Once you have deleted the |
| e-mail may have the .com address of the | | | | e-mail, empty the trash box in your e-mail |
| company mentioned in the e-mail. The | | | | accounts as well. If you are truly concerned |
| clickable link even appears to take you to | | | | that you are missing an important notice |
| the company's website, when in fact, it is a | | | | regarding one of your accounts, then type the |
| fake website built to replicate the | | | | full URL address of the website into your |
| legitimate site. | | | | browser. At least then you can be confident |
| | | | that you are, in fact, being directed to the |
| Many of these people are professional | | | | true and legitimate website. |