How to Spot a Phishing Scam
June 26, 2008 by Antivirus Ware.com - Download Norton Antivirus software instantly!
A good percentage of people online use sites that involve disclosure of their personal financial information. Hackers looking to capitalize on that fact take part in a process called phishing in an attempt to steal your valuable personal information. They do this by sending out fraudulent e-mails that resemble e-mails from websites that you trust and reroute you to another site that is disguised as the trusted site in order to key log your user name and password.
It is important to know how to spot phishers and avoid falling prey to their deceptive tactics. There are a number of ways to detect a phishing scam. First, if you use Internet Explorer 7 it does include a phishing filter to identify websites that have already been marked as fraudulent. Additionally, the address bar will turn green on sites that have Extended Validation SSL Certificates. If a site lacks this certificate they may not be reputable.
If you receive an e-mail from a phisher there are a few key things to look for that help you identify them as a scam. They may use the phrasing “verify your account” a reputable business will never ask you to send personal data or passwords through e-mail. They may also imply a sense of urgency for you to reply by e-mail or follow a link. Always call your financial institution if you are in doubt; never reply through e-mail or log into a questionable looking site.
