How to Protect Yourself From Phishing Scams

Posted by Anonymous , 9/5/2007 Tags:ProtectYourselfFromPhishingScamsfrom

Story Highlights

Introduction A phisher is someone who sends out hundreds of fraudulent emails, purported to be from

Adjust font size:
Desrease font
Enlarge font

Introduction

A phisher is someone who sends out hundreds of fraudulent emails, purported to be from respectable companies. These emails usually claim that there is some problem with your account, and tell you that you should reply with certain types of personal information such as a credit card number or password to keep your account active. They often threaten dire consequences if you do not comply, such as the deletion of your accounts.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Steps

1

Step One

If you receive an email that claims to be from a company that you trust but asks for personal information, then you should visit the Web site.
2

Step Two

Do not click the links in the email. Instead, type in the address of the site that you wish to visit.
3

Step Three

If there is no sign of the supposed problem when you sign into your account, seek out a contact phone number.
4

Step Four

Call the "company" and ask if they sent you an email. The answer will likely be no.
5

Step Five

Forward the email to the scam-reporting email address that the representative on the phone can give you, then forward it again to the Federal Trade Commission.
6

Step Six

Delete the email.

Overall Tips & Warnings

  • Always type in the address of the site you want to visit versus clicking a link in a suspicious email.
  • Leave the email header intact for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The header is the information that appears in the message box when you forward an email. It will help the FTC track and punish the sender.
  • Never open an email from someone that you do not know. Unless it is a business account, no one that you dona??t know should have or be able to use your email. Most of the excess is junk and the rest is an attempt to scam you or sell to you.
  • Never give out personal information over your email.
  • Never use email links to get to popular web sites like eBay or PayPal.

Overall Things You'll Need

  • An email account
  • A computer with Internet access
<< Before
How to Protect Yourself From Phishing Scams
How to Protect Yourself from Phishing Scams
Comments
Tools: |