Phishing

What It Is

Phishing (FISH-ing) refers to a scheme used to trick an individual into providing bank, credit card, or financial account information by sending a fraudulent email purporting to be from a bank, internet provider, or another institution asking for account numbers, passwords or any other personal financial information. Thieves are "phishing" for information.

How It Works

In phishing, cyber-criminals send emails that seem to be from legitimate financial institutions or other companies, asking for confirmation of personal or account information. The email may ask for a simple reply or provide a link to a legitimate-appearing website and may not include text.

Cyber-criminals use these techniques to get you to reveal confidential information so they can commit direct theft or steal your identity and commit other fraudulent activities.

How to Prevent It

• Never respond to unsolicited email from an unfamiliar source. This confirms an active address to the attacker, and they will be back.
• Never click any link in an email. This could either take you to a criminal site, download Spyware to be used in subsequent attempts to steal information or download a virus to your computer.
• Never open an attachment from an unfamiliar source. This could infect your computer with a virus or Spyware.
• When you receive a suspicious email in your inbox, immediately delete it.
• Never give out your personal or financial information over the phone or the computer unless you initiated the contact. We will never ask you to "verify" your financial information via email or ask you to click on a special site link.
• Don't respond to an email that warns of dire consequences. Always confirm these emails with the bank or company.
• Check your credit card and bank account statements regularly and look for unauthorized charges, even small ones. 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 address begins with "https." This is no guarantee, but the lack of these icons or "https" does indicate that the website isn't secure.

If It Happens to You

• If you discover that you have responded to a fraudulent email, contact your financial institution immediately so they can help protect your account and identity.
• In addition, report suspicious activity to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

For more information on phishing or identity theft, go to www.antiphishing.org or http://www.ncpw.gov/category/consumer-topics/identity-theft-and-privacy-resources/. Each year, phishing con artists convince 5% of the public to fall for their scams. Make sure it's not you.

Source: Wisconsin Bankers Association, www.wisbank.com

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