Phishing attacks use "spoofed" emails and fraudulent web sites designed to fool recipients into divulging personal financial data such as credit card number, account usernames and passwords, Social Security numbers, etc. By hijacking the trusted brands of well-known banks, online retailers, and credit card companies, phishers are able to convince up to 5% of recipients to respond to them.

• Never give out your personal financial information in response to an unsolicited phone call, fax, or email, no matter how official it may seem.
• Do not respond to email that may warn of dire consequences unless you validate your information immediately. contact the company to confirm the email's validity using a telephone number or web address you know to be genuine.
• Check your credit card and bank account statements regularly and look for unauthorized transactions, even small ones. Some thieves hope small transactions will go unnoticed. Report discrepancies immediately.
• When submitting financial information to a website, look for the padlock or key icon at the bottom of your browser, and make sure the internet address beginns with "https." this signals that your information is secure during transmission.
• If you have responded to an email, contact your bank immediately so they can protect your account and your identity.

 

Thanks to the American Bankers Association for providing these useful tips.