Hello, and welcome to my phishing page! I decided to create this page because phishing has become such a widespread phenomenon that it needs to be discussed.
What is phishing?
Phishing is a term used to describe the act of sending fake e-mails to people in order to get them to divulge personal financial information such as credit card numbers, and other sensitive information. Phishers then use this information as part of an identity theft scam, running up bills, or even committing crimes in someone else's name!
How is it done?
Phishing is done by sending what appears to be genuine e-mails from reputable companies to people asking them to update or validate information such as online accounts with eBay, or Amazon.com, bank accounts, or credit card numbers. They are told that if they don't respond, something dire will happen, such as their account expiring or being closed. The person is then directed to a genuine looking web site where passwords or PIN numbers are collected. That is where the problem arises. The e-mails, as well as the web sites, are FAKE, and the poor, unsuspecting soul who has turned over his or her data has been phished! The phisher can (and often does) then wipe out the person's bank account, max out their credit cards, and create other forms of havoc in the person's life. Some phishers have even committed crimes in the name of the person whose identity they have stolen!
Phishing isn't exactly new. It has been around for a while. Phishers used to use the phone to do their dirty deeds. They would call an unsuspecting consumer claiming to be from their bank, or other business that they use, and would ask for personal information. Soon after, the consumer would notice strange things going on with their finances. Actually, users of Voice Over IP phones (VoIP) have begun to experience this today. They receive a message on their phone that appears to be from a local area code, but is really in another country! The message is usually quite serious, and instructs the person to call the supposed local number (claiming to be a bank or other financial institution), where they are directed to an automated system, where their information is gathered. These folks never realize that they have been a victim of a phishing scam until their bank or credit card account is wiped.
I would venture to say that there is another common form of phishing going on that isn't known by that name. I call it dumpster diving, but hey, phishing by any other name is still phishing. Dumpster diving is the act of going through someone else's dumpster or garbage to search for items that they find useful. For some, it might be food that others have thrown away. For others, it might be furniture, or some other appliance that can be fixed or refurbished. For a phisher, it's a bank account that they can purge, or an identity that they can steal. It may sound gross, but phishers actually go through trash bags to find insurance information, bank statements, credit card bills, old wills, old deeds, Social Security numbers, anything that can be used to their advantage.
How can you protect yourself?
My advice to people is to be wary. Be suspicious. Think before you click! If you're on the Internet, and you receive an e-mail from a business that you have used, don't reply, or click on any links. Some of the software that phishers use to create their scams can wreak havoc with your computer. Call the business. Find the number yourself, don't rely on the number in an e-mail. Phishers go to astounding lengths to steal your money and identity. They create false e-mails, fake web sites, and phony businesses to do their thing. When you call the business, remember: reputable businesses will never ask you for your passwords or PIN numbers! If you are asked for this information, DON'T give it to them. If you are contacted by e-mail from a company you've never heard of, or have never done business with asking for personal information, use common sense! The only thing you should click on is the delete button. If you receive an unsolicited call from a company, don't give out personal information. In fact, don't do business with them. It could be a phisher running a scam. One other thing. Invest in a small shredder, and use it to shred papers that you no longer need that may contain sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and the like. If you cannot afford a shredder, I suggest cutting these papers into tiny pieces before throwing them out.
By following the above tips, you may go a long way to thwarting the efforts of a phisher. These folks by their actions have not only ruined some people's credit, they have ruined their lives.
More information
Here are some web sites where you can learn more about phishing, and how to protect yourself.
How Not To Get Hooked By A Phishing Scam--Brought to you by the Federal Trade Commission.
MailFrontier Phishing IQ Test--A test to see if you can detect a phishing scam.
Phishing Schemes Scar Victims--A Washington Post article. There are also links to other articles on phishing and cybercrime that the Washington Post has published.
Watch out for phishing E-mails
Internet Crime Complaint Center--Report Internet phishing scams at this site!
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