Phishing - Is Your Identity Safe?

You all know the scenario. You get an e-mail asking you to visit a certain website (eBay, PayPal, your Bank etc) and update your personal information there. For various reasons you're required to update your social security number, password or credit card details. You recognize the name of the company and you know you have an account with them so you don't think about it too much. You click on the link, get to the website and enter all the information they've asked you for.

It's only after that you find out that the website was a fake and you've just handed over your personal and financial details without any struggle or argument. You've just been phished buddy - it's not a nice feeling is it?

Phishing which is pronounced "fishing" is when somebody sends you an e-mail to scam you out of personal information. The long term goal for them is to get enough of your personal information to steal your identity.

You'd think it's pretty easy to spot a phishing scam but it's easier said than done. The e-mails are usually very put together and seem to come from a legitimate e-mail address. Even when you get to the website it will look identical to the actual companies website. Everything will look kosher until you start seeing money flowing out from your bank account and your credit card gets maxed out overnight.

So who's actually behind these scams? It's a whole bunch of new age, technically adept criminals. Not just some amateur - these guys are professionals. They spend a lot of time and money putting the e-mails and the websites together - because they know just how much money they can make from one single "campaign". They'll copy logos and images from the legitimate website to make it look more real - these guys aren't half-assed in what they do so you have to be one step ahead of them the whole time.

One simple trick for checking whether or not the link in the e-mail is fake or dangerous is to put your mouse pointer over the link itself (Do Not Click The Link) and look at the toolbar at the bottom of your e-mail program (usually at the bottom left) and you'll see the real website address there and it's usually going to be something like "http://www.99554.ru". Now you know for certain the e-mail is downright dangerous.

If you're ever worried about whether or not an e-mail is safe to open or read just delete it. Then empty your trashcan in your e-mail program. If the e-mail is really, really that important the person will e-mail you again or better still they might even phone you.

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