How Can I Avoid Getting Phished?

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This year is proving to be much like last year in terms of the types of scams and frauds that are perpetrated online.

The one main difference I guess would be the rise in popularity of social networks which has made them a ripe target for cyber thieves who take money from your accounts, and malware writers who look to trick you with scareware.

Wherever online fraud is committed, the method is often all too familiar – phishing.

Essentially, phishing is like an online con.

These con artists behind phishing attempts utilise social networks, websites, email, instant messengers and spam to try and trick you into giving out information that you really ought to keep to yourself.

Keeping yourself safe and avoiding phishing scams isn’t so hard though.

Here are a few tips on identifying and avoiding phishing scams -

How to Identify a Phishing Scam:

* If the email you received from your bank asks for details they should already know then don’t reply!
* If someone uses scare tactics or pressure to try to get you to reveal information then walk away.
* Legitimate corporations and people never request confidential data via email or instant messaging programs.
* Phishers don’t typically know their victims – if you get generic emails that don’t address you by name then be wary.

How to Keep Safe:

* If you think you have been contacted by a genuine organisation then confirm via telephone (get the number off your bank statement, etc, NOT from their email!)
* Search for a company’s name, the contents of an email or a particular name – you may be surprised by what turns up.
* Never click on links in emails, especially if they ‘appear’ to link to your bank or credit card company.

Think before you click on anything, take a deep breath before visiting any website and never open email attachments from people you do not know.

Stay safe and don’t get phished.

Lee Ives hates phishers and has written extensively about identity theft on his blog. In fact, he has written so much that he would be most upset if you don’t visit. So toodle on over. Right now. You know you want to.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/security-articles/how-can-i-avoid-getting-phished-1383691.html