10 Tips to Protect Yourself from
Phishing Scams

Phishing comes from the analogy that Internet scammers are using email bait to fish for passwords and personal information from the sea of Internet users. Internet scammers replace the "f" with "ph," thus the term “phishing” was derived. Fraudsters are Internet scammers that send e-mails falsely claiming to be a legitimate company, and direct victims to a false website where personal information is requested.

1. Use Anti-Virus Software - Virus programs can search your computer for personally sensitive information and pass this information to fraudsters.
2. Use Anti-SPAM Filter Software - Some studies have shown around 85% of all email sent is spam.
3. Never Click on Hyperlinks within emails - Hyperlinks within emails are often cloaked or hidden. The text you see as a hyperlink may not be where the hyperlink takes you.
4. Use a Personal Firewall - Firewall's can monitor both incoming and outgoing Internet traffic from a computer. This can protect the computer from being hacked into and a virus being planted. It can also block spyware programs from accessing the Internet.
5. Keep Software Updated (Operating Systems & Browsers) - Software vendors are constantly updating their software to fix vulnerabilities and protect consumers.
6. Look for "https" and a padlock on a site that requests personal information. - When submitting sensitive information on the Internet, look for the locked padlock on the Internet browser's status bar or the "https://" at the start of the URL in the address bar.
7. Keep your Computer Clean from Spyware - Spyware are files that are installed on your computer, allowing companies to monitor your Internet browsing patterns, see what you purchase, and inundate you with annoying "pop-up" ads.
8. Check Your Credit Report Immediately, for Free! - You should check your credit report, and subscribe to a credit report monitoring service - to be alerted if your personal information is used fraudulently.
9. Educate Yourself on Fraudulent Activity on the Internet - Internet fraud methods are evolving at a rapid rate. Consumers need to be aware that they are vulnerable.
   Many victims thought they were too smart to be scammed.
10. Seek Advice - If you are unsure, ask! - As a general practice, financial
    institutions will not ask you for account information, PINs, or other
    personal information in an email. If you question the legitimacy of an
    email, seek advice from the legitimate corporation using
    verified contact details.

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