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Home | Computers & Technology | Security When we are sending sensitive info to a web site, we should first scan the page to find the image of a locked lock in the 'status' bar area. Additionally, we can check that the first part of the web address has 'https://' in it, as this tells us our Internet connection is secure. It's wise to closely inspect our banking statements immediately upon receipt, with a shrewd eye out for questionable or fraudulent charges. We should call the bank to confirm our addresses and balances if our statement is more than several days late. Emails which look suspicious can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission; just send the suspected phish e-mails on to uce@ftc.gov. Often the bogus e-mails appear to be from a business that you trust and interact with on a regular basis - a banking institution, Internet Service Provider (ISP), or credit company. The phishy email will request that you validate your info to maintain an active account, and includes a link to a fake web site which could look quite like the real one. The unwary victim will comply and provide their ID, mailing address, phone number, social security number and credit card number. When this occurs, the crime is committed - the victim has just been conned into providing personal info to a crook. The thief will then simply use the info to make purchases, applications for credit, or travel in the victim's name. These dastardly tactics are particularly harsh as they abuse people's trust and cooperation by impersonating a real reputable business. The perpetrator preys on those who may not have as much experience on the Internet or with online banking techniques. Most likely the victim simply cannot determine the difference between a fake site and the real one. Some clues: phish e-mails tend to include broken language, and instead of a regular URL like: www.mytrustedbank.com, the web address will just be a bunch of numbers, as in: 541.58.39.21. Often the site navigation buttons appear superimposed on the design instead of integrated with professional style. There are some immediate actions which those who've been conned on the Internet should take. First, report the incident as soon as possible. Next, cancel the compromised account, and open a new one. Look over your official statement and report charges which you did not make yourself. It's often preferable to do this in writing using the institution's official form. If it is a real instance of fraudulent charges, research the maximum dollar amount which your credit company will hold you liable for. Oftentimes law will set a maximum to protect your assets. Finally, submit your official letter of complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. Unfortunately, Internet scams and identity theft are on the rise. For more info about how you can reduce the risk of becoming a phishing victim, see: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft. Article Source: http://www.articlewheel.com
Nick Pegley is VP Marketing for All Covered: Technology Services Partner for Small Business, providing information technology security and IT services in 20 major U.S. metro areas.
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