| Phishing scams are situations created by identity | | | | information to trace the origin of the perpetrator. |
| thieves where they pretend to already know | | | | Limit Your Dialogue |
| some information about you in order to gain | | | | As you might expect, there are many people that |
| access to your personal information. For example, | | | | have had their identity stolen that are very angry |
| you might receive an email or instant message | | | | about it. Some of these people have formed |
| that appears to be from your bank or lender. This | | | | watch groups and offer a wide variety of support |
| individual will ask you to confirm your bank | | | | services - some good and some bad. They might |
| account number or other sensitive information - | | | | also encourage you to communicate with the |
| sometimes threatening negative consequences if | | | | perpetrator and attempt to play mind games with |
| you don't do so immediately. Even though refusing | | | | him or her. However, some phishing perpetrators |
| to give out this information is your best defense, | | | | are violent criminals - the best thing you can do is |
| millions of people get fooled every year by these | | | | simply report their activities and move on with |
| scams. | | | | your life. |
| Keep Your Email and Instant Message Addresses | | | | Getting involved with phishers can be more |
| Private | | | | trouble than it's worth. In some cases, you may |
| The best way to keep yourself from being | | | | receive repeated emails from them. In many |
| tempted to respond to a phishing scam is to | | | | cases, almost all of these messages are |
| prevent them from landing in your email box in | | | | automated - so attempting to play mind games |
| the first place. You may find it useful to have a | | | | only leads to more frustration on your part. Just |
| separate email address for financial institutions, | | | | keep reporting them to your bank and the FBI, if |
| one for trusted friends and family, and one for | | | | necessary. While you may be tempted to send |
| general or public use. Many email providers will | | | | along a nasty letter to the perpetrator, it is better |
| allow you to redirect emails from each of these | | | | to simply set up a spam blocker and try to ignore |
| different addresses to one account to minimize | | | | them. |
| the inconvenience of checking each account. Do | | | | For the most part, phishing will not interfere with |
| everything possible to keep the address you use | | | | your life if you do not allow yourself to fall for it. |
| for financial transactions as private as possible. | | | | Unfortunately, when you are threatened with the |
| Immediately Report Suspected Phishing Contacts | | | | loss of access to a bank account, it may be very |
| If you do receive a message you suspect to be | | | | easy to justify giving up sensitive information. In |
| a phishing scam, call the customer service phone | | | | every case of phishing, one simple phone call to |
| number right away to confirm whether you've | | | | the bank or lender would have made the situation |
| received an actual message or not. In addition, | | | | very clear to the victim and prevented the crime |
| almost every bank and credit card lender has a | | | | entirely. The best thing you can do is report |
| website where you can report suspicious emails | | | | anything you suspect as phishing and let the bank |
| and instant messages. Typically, they will ask you | | | | and the authorities manage it from there. |
| to fill out a simple form that will give them enough | | | | |