Phishing Scam

If you do a lot of your banking and shopping online, you may have heard of the online scam called “phishing”. Phishing is a type of fraud through which fraudsters acting as a trusted business like a bank, ask for sensitive information like usernames, passwords and credit card details. You should always be suspicious if you receive an email that seems to be from your bank asking you to verify and provide any form of personal account information.

Any email requiring such information from you is likely to be a phishing scam. Here is what a Phishing email may look like.“when you click on a link in a fraudulent email, you will be taken to a look alike website, where Phishers will run programs that can be used to steal your login information, PIN numbers, or passwords. Once the phishers have this information, they can use it to commit fraud, including stealing money from your account, or even identity theft.

Phishers often use real logos, addresses and phone numbers of organizations we all trust as bait. These look alike websites look very genuine, but remember that legitimate websites will have the letters hptts: // in the URL and a closed“padlock” icon. Remember never give out account numbers , PIN numbers or passwords online or over the phone. Never call the phone number given to you in a suspicious email, instead use the number on the back of your bank card to confirm legitimacy. Most importantly, remember that your bank will never ask you to provide personal information in an email. Watch out for emails that claim your account security has been compromised. It might look like this;

Dear valued customer,

“To verify your identity, kindly follow reference below and take the directions to instant activation. “We urge you to update your security features immediately. Failure to do so could lead to your account being compromised”.

Effective Phishing control measures include; arming computers with spam filters, antivirus and anti-spyware software and a firewall, kept up to date, deleting unsolicited emails from financial institutions,, credit unions, investments companies and government parastatals with which you are not familiar with. If any relationship exists between you and the email originator, call the organisation to confirm its legitimacy . Furthermore, avoid entering passwords or sensitive information into public computers, such as internet cafes, library, computer lab and airport kiosk. These suggested measures can help mitigate the risk of Phishing scams.

If you do fall victim to a phishing scam, please contact your bank and always endeavour to keep a close watch on transactions and credit reports.

Email: contact@emgfraudconsulting.co.uk

Twitter: @emgfraudconsult

1	15 Ways to Avoid being a Victim of Fraud Do not assume a credible-looking website is credible. Anyone can create a website that looks legitimate.
2	An old financial cliche that has been around much longer than the Internet applies to Web deals, too: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
3	Be cautious of unsolicited e-mails and phone calls -- many are fraudulent.
4	Be wary of anyone who asks for personal information. Do not give out any information to a person, business or web site you have not verified with a reputable source.
5	Your personal information should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Do not give it out.
6	Be suspicious of anyone who contacts you and claims to be from a company with whom you have an account like a bank, credit card or phone company. If they ask for information that the business already has, do not give it to them. Call the company independently, using the contact information on your statement or from the official Web site.
7	Do not respond to offers that demand you act immediately or won't take "no" for an answer.
8	Legitimate charitable causes do not need to telephone or e-mail to solicit donations or obtain passwords to accept donations. Do not respond to these offers or pleas for help.
9	Do not follow the unsubscribe instructions in unsolicited e-mail. In many cases, it only verifies your e-mail address -- you will get even more junk e-mail.
10	E-mail addresses or Web addresses that have a company name in the address are not necessarily from that company. Go to the official Web site for contact information.
11	Do not open e-mail attachments from unfamiliar sources. They could contain malicious programs designed to steal your personal information.
12	Watch out for pop-up windows asking you to enter in financial data. Legitimate companies won't require you to submit sensitive information this way.
13	Keep your computer protected. Having anti-virus software is great, but you also need anti-spam and spyware protection to keep scams and computer intruders at bay. Utilize and update your firewall.
14	Watch out for online job ads that read like get-rich-quick schemes. Think about it. No company wants to pay gobs of money for someone with no experience to do easy work.
15	Complicate your passwords. Don't use a word or number easy to guess, such as your significant other's name or birthday. Change them frequently. Sources: Internet Fraud Watch, Internet Crime Complaint Centre Twitter: @emgfraudconsult Email: contact@emgfraudconsulting.co.uk