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