We are all aware that there are individuals out there who capitalize on stealing the identity of others; primarily for the sole purpose of gaining material possessions or money while leaving the debt on the hands of the victim. These types of criminals can reside in your own backyard or in foreign countries and use a variety of tactics that make it difficult to find out their identity. Despite this, there are steps that consumers can take in order to protect their personal information.
One of the most common methods of identity theft is through the use of phishing scams. This type of scam involves creating of an email and/or website that looks as though it belongs to a legitimate financial institution. The email, which requests the recipient to supply their personal information (e.g., social security number or credit card number), is then widely distributed. Anyone who responds is essentially giving their information to someone who will use it for malicious reasons.
Unfortunately, many people fall victim to this scam on a daily basis and it's not surprising why. Scam artists who use phishing as a means to obtain credit card or financial data use tactics that make it difficult for the consumer to spot what is really going on. These tactics include:
Creating an email and/or website that is identical to the financial institution they are purporting to come from Masking their email address to match or appear similar to that of the financial institution Using scare tactics in the body of the email to coax a consumer into responding; such as telling them that they must supply their account information in order to avoid suspension.While it can sometimes be difficult to spot a phishing scam, consumers can easily avoid becoming a victim by following one simple rule...NEVER supply your personal information in an email. You should also never click on a link within an email and provide your information via the provided website. Quite frankly, it doesn't matter how legitimate the email or website looks. Practically all companies consider it a violation of their policy to request this type of data via email.
If you ever receive this type of email, you should delete it immediately. Do not bother clicking on any links or reply to the email in any way. If you are ever concerned regarding the legitimacy of the email, you can always contact the financial institution directly. However, make sure that you obtain a phone number through a direct web site or even from a billing statement you received in the mail. Do NOT use any contact information provided within the email. You may even want to go ahead and contact the institution simply to report the scam, as they may want to post a warning announcement to their customers.
People who make it a point to protect their account information and personal data are much less likely to become a victim of theft. Your personal information is highly important and the consequences can be detrimental if this data falls into the wrong hands. Consumers should always be on guard and take necessary steps to ensure that their information stays safe.
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