| Dear Bank of the West customer, the message | | | | identity? |
| begins. Ive just received an e-mail message, | | | | There are several tips to help identify phishing |
| purportedly from the security department at the | | | | expeditions. The first is the greeting. Dear valued |
| Bank of the West. The message explains that | | | | customer is an odd greeting from a company |
| certain features of my account have been | | | | that has a database that contains your name, |
| suspended due to suspicious activity on my | | | | address, Social Security number and credit card. |
| account. The message then provides a link that I | | | | Any company with whom you do business that |
| can follow in order to fill out an online form | | | | legitimately wants to contact you will probably do |
| confirming my identity. Its certainly nice that Bank | | | | so by name. Look for misspelled words. Phishing |
| of the West is worried about the status of my | | | | expeditions often come from foreign senders |
| account. Theres just one problem I dont have an | | | | who often mangle the English text of the |
| account at Bank of the West. In fact, Ive never | | | | message rather badly, combining both bad |
| even heard of Bank of the West. | | | | grammar and bad spelling. Check the links in the |
| This message is an example of phishing, a | | | | messages. The link may say but if you move |
| relatively new problem found on the Internet. | | | | your mouse over the link, you may see |
| Unscrupulous individuals are sending spam e-mail | | | | something like htttp://200.118.105 on the bottom |
| messages by the millions, purporting to be from | | | | line of your e-mail program, indicating that the link |
| credit card companies, PayPal, eBay, or banks. | | | | is a fake. Should you click on the link, youll be |
| Each message warns the recipient of questionable | | | | taken to a page that looks just like the real |
| activity on his or her account, as asks that the | | | | Website, but why take the chance? |
| recipient click on a link to verify personal | | | | If you need to contact your bank, credit card |
| information. The requested information is usually a | | | | company, or online auction house, either go to |
| username or password. Sometimes its a credit | | | | their Website directly or call them. Never click on |
| card number and expiration date. These | | | | a link in a message that threatens you with |
| messages are almost always fraudulent, and | | | | account suspension; if a company with whom you |
| consumers are falling for them by the thousands. | | | | do business has issues with your account, they will |
| The messages certainly look legitimate, and often | | | | probably contact you by phone or mail. These |
| mimic the style of the legitimate companys | | | | individuals who use these phishing tips are getting |
| messages exactly. How can you tell the | | | | more clever all the time. It pays to be suspicious. |
| difference between a real message from your | | | | If you arent, you may end up a victim of identity |
| bank and a fake one designed to steal your | | | | theft. |