What is "phishing"?

Phishing is a technique fraudsters use to get personal information (passwords, credit card numbers, birthdays, etc.) so they can steal your identity.

What are the dangers of phishing?

A phishing email will try to get you to open an attachment or click on a link that will bring up a Web site that will try to trick you into revealing your personal information. Or you might receive an email from your bank asking for your account number and password. Clicking on the link will bring you to a picture perfect copy of the Web site you know and use, and all the information you enter on the fake site will fall into the hands of fraudsters. Banks, the police, and most companies don’t contact their clients by email and certainly don’t ask for that type of information by telephone. The technique is used by fraudsters to unsettle their victim into giving out personal information.

How can you protect yourself against phishing?

• Never reply to emails like this. If you receive a phone call, take down the person’s name and find the company’s phone number yourself.
• When you receive a suspicious email, don’t click on any links, don’t open any attachments, and above all, don’t give out any personal information.
• Keep your operating system and your anti-virus and anti-spam protection up to date.
• If you have to perform electronic transactions, make sure you’re dealing with a legitimate site.