| Have you ever received e-mail messages that | | | | the damage and that updates your files |
| threaten to close your PayPal or Ebay account | | | | automatically. |
| unless you send them information? It's a scam | | | | A firewall helps make you invisible on the Internet. |
| called "phishing." It is pronounced "fishing." It means | | | | It blocks all communications from unauthorized |
| what it says. Internet scam artists are fishing for | | | | sources. It is especially important to use a firewall |
| information. It comes from Internet fraudsters | | | | if you have a broadband connection. Operating |
| who send spam or pop-up messages to lure | | | | systems like Windows also may offer free |
| personal information from you. Their objective is | | | | software updates to close holes in the system |
| to extract sensitive information from unsuspecting | | | | that hackers or phishers could exploit. |
| victims. | | | | Don't e-mail personal or financial information. E-mail |
| The Federal Trade Commission(FTC) warns you | | | | is not a secure method of transmitting personal |
| that when phishers send you a fraudulent e-email, | | | | information. If you initiate a transaction and need |
| they want you to update, validate,or confirm your | | | | to provide such information, look for indicators |
| bank, credit card, or PayPal account, including | | | | that the destination site is secure. Unfortunately, |
| passwords. Some phishing e-mails threaten to | | | | no indicator is foolproof. Some phishers have |
| terminate your account if you don't respond. The | | | | forged security icons. |
| messages direct you to a website that looks just | | | | Review credit card and bank account statements |
| like a legitimate organization's site. However, it isn't. | | | | as soon as you receive them. Check for |
| It's a bogus site whose sole purpose is to trick | | | | unauthorized charges,address changes,and |
| you into divulging your personal information so the | | | | unexplained account balances. |
| operators can steal your identity and run up bills | | | | Be cautious about opening any attachment or |
| or commit crimes in your name. | | | | downloading any files from emails you receive, |
| The FTC suggests these tips to help you avoid | | | | regardless of who sent them. These files can |
| getting hooked by a phishing scam: | | | | contain viruses or other software that can |
| If you get an e-mail message that asks for your | | | | weaken your computer's security. |
| personal or financial information, DO NOT REPLY. | | | | After you are back on the internet, forward |
| Do not click on the link in the message. Legitimate | | | | spam e-mail that is phishing for information to . |
| companies don't ask for this information via e-mail. | | | | Also, forward the suspicious e-mail to the |
| If you are concerned about your account, contact | | | | company, bank, or organization impersonated in |
| your bank or credit card company using a | | | | the phishing e-mail. Most organizations have |
| telephone number you know that is genuine. | | | | information on their websites about where to |
| All the scam merchant needs is for you to access | | | | report problems. |
| his/her website. Then, you are hooked. To avoid | | | | If you believe you've been scammed, file your |
| an inadvertent mistake, stay off the internet until | | | | complaint to ftc.gov, and then visit the FTC's |
| you have established contact with your financial | | | | Identity Theft website at Victims of phishing can |
| institution. | | | | become victims of identity theft. While you can't |
| Use anti-virus software and a firewall. Keep them | | | | entirely control whether you will become a victim |
| up to date. Some phishing e-mails contain | | | | of identity theft, you can take some steps to |
| software that can harm your computer or track | | | | minimize your risk. If an identity thief is opening |
| your activities on the Internet without your | | | | credit accounts in your name, these new |
| knowledge. | | | | accounts are likely to show up on your credit |
| Anti-virus software and a firewall can protect you | | | | report. You may catch an incident early if you |
| from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files. | | | | order a free copy of your credit report |
| Anti-virus software scans incoming | | | | periodically from any of the three major credit |
| communications for troublesome files. Look for | | | | bureaus. |
| anti-virus software that recognizes current viruses | | | | You can learn other ways to avoid email scams |
| as well as older ones that can effectively reverse | | | | and deal with deceptive spam at ftc. |