Identifying and Reporting Phishing Scams

What is a phishing scam? Phishing is a type of internet criminal activity where a target receives an email supposedly from his or her bank or other trustworthy business or person. Believing the email to be legitimate, targets may follow the links contained in the email that eventually leads to giving away critical personal identity or financial information. Usually these emails will tell the recipient that they must update their personal information or that someone has tried to access their account. The second approach helps to distract the target with worry in the hopes that he or she will then be less aware of just where the links are pointing to.

Phishing scam emails will often contain official logos. Usually these logos are even called from the official site's server. Not only does this lend credibility if a target is to check on the image location, but saves the scammers hosting fees.

How do I spot a phishing scam email?

This is really pretty simple. First of all, never –I repeat, NEVER send personal or financial information via email. If a legitimate company needs such information they can provide you with a secure website where it's safe to input sensitive information. Secure website address begin with “https” rather than the regular 'http'. When targets visit the phishers' website, they'll be greeted with a clone of the actual website. Here they will be asked to input their login, personal or financial information.

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