You will receive an email from your bank warning you that your account information needs to be updated urgently or it will be suspended. Panicked, click the email link and are taken to the website of your bank. Without giving a second thought, you must enter your user name and password to access your account online. At that time, just the hands of a unknown criminal the keys to your bank account. You've been a victim of phishing1 plan.

Phishing has become one of the most common methods of electronic identity theft people. During the period between May 2004 and May 2005, over 1.2 million people were victims of these attacks and have lost approximately $ 929 million. It is clear that phishing is a big problem, but the question is how can protect themselves from being reeled in?

One way is to increase your confidence. E-mails and web sites used in these phishing schemes are usually very accurate in appearance and tone to the real thing. That may make it difficult for you to recognize a fraud. However, there are a couple of things that can warn of danger.

First, check how the email addresses. Why do you say "Dear PayPal Customer" or include your name? Legitimate emails from these companies to use its name in the greeting. If the email starts with a generic greeting that could have been sent to anyone, then you should think twice before following any link in the email.

Second, consider what the email is saying. Phishing schemes often use scare tactics like saying that your account is suspended, so that they act quickly and without thinking. Do not fall into their trap! If you receive an email stating that some problem with your account, please contact the organization by email or, preferably, by phone to check the status itself.

Finally, never click a link in the email. These links will redirect you to the website of the attackers. Instead, go to the website of the organization on their own. For example, if you received an email supposedly from Ebay on your account, you would type www.ebay.com into your browser instead of using the link. That way you can check the status of your account safely, as you know you're in the right place.


Of course, phishing is just one method to steal your identity.