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It is a sad but inevitable truth that as fast as technological security improves, cyber criminals are just as quickly finding ways to beat the safety measures and cheat and steal from unsuspecting Internet users.
Worst of all, one of the fastest growing methods criminals use are “phishing” emails. These emails are designed to appear as if they have been sent to you by companies you trust – most often financial institutions or companies you do business with. The standard phishing email threatens to close or suspend your personal accounts if you do not take immediate action. After this alarming news, the email tries to convince you that all you need to do is click on a link provided within the text of the message and you will be allowed to “validate” all of your personal information conveniently and securely.
Don't Do It!
Remember – reputable financial institutions DO NOT send unsolicited emails asking for your personal information.
These fraudulent emails are not sent to only certain types of internet users. Young or old, poor or wealthy, everyone who has an email account is at risk. In fact, a number of RBCU members have received a particularly sneaky phishing email claiming to be from the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), the U.S. federal government agency that oversees all credit unions and insures all credit union members’ accounts.
Much of the time, a careful reading of the email will reveal its fraudulence. Misspelled words and poor grammar are common with criminally created fake emails.
The best thing you can do with these emails is delete them without responding or clicking on any of the links contained within the message. When you receive spam that is phishing for your personal information, please forward it to spam@uce.gov and also to the company, financial institution, or organization being impersonated.
If you have already given personal information in response to an email that you now believe was a scam, file your complaint at www.ftc.gov and then visit the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft website at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
You can learn other ways to avoid email scams and deal with deceptive spam at www.ftc.gov/spam.
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