BEWARE OF INTERNET SCAMS: PHISHING AND PHARMING

Two methods of potential identity theft are making a large impact on the Internet community. The methods are phishing (pronounced “fishing”) and “farming”. Essentially, these scams attempt to lure the user into a trap by tricking the user into believing they are on a genuine website, such as Ebay or PayPal.
There are several ways they try to get your personal information. They say they are updating your user profile, allege that the you owe them money or that somebody may be using your account without your permission and they just want to verify a few details. The details they want to verify are your CREDIT CARD NUMBER, your PIN NUMBER, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER and/or your DATE OF BIRTH. Armed with this information, they can clean out your credit line and destroy your good credit rating.

 **** Remember…NO LEGITIMATE SITE WILL EVER SOLICIT THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION IN THIS FASHION. Never give out this information from a soliciting email. 

 Professional scammers spend a lot of time and energy making these emails and websites look real. They will cut and past logo’s, emblems and icons to make the info look real.  If you are at all suspicious of an email or suspect it is a scam, report it immediately to your Internet provider to investigate and then delete it. Do not open any attachments.

 Remember to keep your anti-virus software current and up to date; this is your best protection from identity theft and other computer related problems.

There is no ironclad protection that guarantees that you'll never fall victim to some form of identity theft. But there are steps you can take to protect yourself, many of which are rather simple:
 
 1. Destroy private records and statements. Tear up -- or, if you prefer, shred -- credit card statements, solicitations and other documents that contain private financial information.
 
 2. Secure your mail. Empty your mailbox quickly, lock it or get a P.O. box so criminals don't have a chance to snatch credit card pitches. Never mail outgoing bill payments and checks from home. They can be stolen from your mailbox and the payee's name erased with solvents. Mail them from the post office or another secure location.
 
 3. Safeguard your Social Security number. Never carry your card with you, or any other card that may have your number, like a health insurance card. And dont put your number on your checks. It's the primary target for identity thieves because it gives them access to your credit report and bank accounts. (For more on protecting your Social Security number, see "Safeguard your Social Security number.")
 
 4. Don't leave a paper trail. Never leave ATM, credit card or gas station receipts behind.
 
 5. Never let your credit card out of your sight. Worried about credit card skimming? Always keep an eye on your card or, when that's not possible, pay with cash.
 
 6. Know who you're dealing with. Whenever anyone contacts you asking for private identity or financial information, make no response other than to find out who they are, what company they represent and the reason for the call. If you think the request is legitimate, contact the company yourself and confirm what you were told before revealing any of your personal data.
 
 7. Take your name off marketers' hit lists. In addition to the national Do-Not-Call registry (1-888-382-1222), you can also cut down on junk mail and opt out of credit card solicitations. For details, see Liz Weston's article, "Free at last from telemarketing invasions."
 
 8. Be more defensive with personal information. Ask salespeople and others if information such as a Social Security or drivers license number is absolutely necessary. Ask anyone who does require your Social Security number -- for instance, your insurance company -- what their privacy policy is and whether you can arrange for the organization not to share your information with anyone else.
 
 9. Monitor your credit report. Obtain and thoroughly review your credit report (now available for free at Annualcreditreport.com or by calling 877-322-8228) at least once a year to look for suspicious activity. If you spot something, alert your card company or the creditor immediately. You may also want to subscribe to a credit protection service, like Experian's CreditCheck, which alerts you any time a change takes place with your credit report.
 
 10. Review your credit card statements carefully. Make sure you recognize the merchants, locations and purchases listed before paying the bill. If you don't need or use department-store or bank-issued credit cards, consider closing the accounts.