Phishing Scams & Identity Theft

Phishing scams are cleverly disguised attempts to get you to give up important personal information, such as bank account information, social security number, credit card numbers, and account login information. Most phishing scams come disguised as an email from your bank, credit card company, or Paypal. In some cases scammers even use the telephone. The email or phone message will usually say one of the following:

• They are updating your account information and need you to verify it.
• There is a problem with your account and you need to verify your account.
• Some other clever ruse to get you to think you need to give them your account information for some reason.

The emails are formatted to look as if they actually came from the institution they claim to be representing, including the logo and other visual elements from the company's Website. Even the links to their Website are cleverly disguised using HTML which makes it appear to link to the company's Website. However, what actually happens is you are linked to the scammer's Website which looks just like the Website of the bank, credit card company, or Paypal. At this point, any information you submit will go directly to the scammer.

With the phone scam, they even give you a toll-free number to call back, but it goes to the scammer, not the company you think.

Most banks and credit card companies, as well as Paypal, now regularly inform their customers that they do not contact customers via email and ask for any information in this manner. If you receive an email or phone call like this from your bank, credit card company or Paypal, just delete it. If you think it might be legitimate, pick up the phone and call the company using the phone number you have on a bill or statement. Do not click on any links in the email and do not call any phone number they give you in an email or over the phone.