How To Avoid Getting Hooked By Pfishing

"Pfishing", sometimes spelled "Phishing", is a word that's used
to describe a method of identity theft where con men use fake
e-mail that looks like it comes from legitimate sources. This
e-mail is designed to hoodwink you into giving out personal and
financial information. Once the scammers receive your
information they use it to either clone your identity or to empty
out your bank accounts and run up your charge cards. Here are
some tips on how to avoid becoming the next victim.

1. Never respond to an e-mail that looks like it came from your
bank or any of your credit card issuers no matter how official
it appears. Phishing scam e-mails will tell you that there is
some problem with your account and that you have to click on an
embedded link to correct that problem. They may threaten to
close your account, or report you to the credit bureau, if you do
not respond. DON'T DO IT. Don't call the telephone number that
appears in the email either. Get out one of your old bank or
credit card statements and call the number that appears there.
Explain what the email says and follow the directions that you
receive from the actual employee. Chances are they'll tell you
its a scam.

2. Never give your bank account information, credit card numbers,
Social Security number, passwords, personal identification
numbers (PIN), or Date of Birth to anyone who asks you for that
information by email. No legitimate company will expect you to
reveal sensitive information via email. Also, no company that
issues you a PIN will ever ask you to reveal that PIN to any of
their employees.

3. Never respond to any offer to buy anything by clicking on the
link in the e-mail. Even if the e-mail looks like it comes from
your favorite department store it might be a scam. To avoid
being hooked by Pfishing, type in the URL to the department
store by yourself. Go to Google.com to look it up if you don't
already know it.

4. Forward copies of any Pfishing email to the actual company or
bank that is being imitated by the scammers. You can usually
send any email to postmaster@ and then the bank or company name.

5. If a Pfishing e-mail seems particularly threatening or
worrisome to you, report it to the Internet Crime Complaint
Center (www.ifccfbi.gov), a partnership between the FBI and the
National White Collar Crime Center.

6. If it's too late and you already provided any of your personal
information, account numbers, or PINs then you should
immediately contact your banks and credit card companies to make
arrangements with them to protect your financial interests.
These companies and institutions are familiar with these scams
and they know what needs to be done.

7. If you receive evidence of identity theft, such as
unauthorized charges on your credit card bills, or unexplained
transactions in your bank account, contact the police and file a
report. Be sure to get a copy of the report for your own records
and to send to the companies that are involved in the
transactions. You also need to contact all three major credit
bureaus (Equifax at 800-525-6285, Experian at 888-397-3742 and
TransUnion at 800-680-7289) and tell them that you need a fraud
alert placed on your credit file.

8. You can get information on ID theft and Pfishing at the
Federal Trade Commission Web site at www.ftc.gov or calling
toll-free 877-382-4357.