Email "Phishing" Scams

There has been a steady rise in online scams recently. Many of these emails direct the recipient to a "spoof" site that mirrors the legitimate site by using logos, fonts and colors that are used on the actual site. The recipient is then asked to disclose private information like account numbers and passwords.

Here are some of the characteristics of email scams currently in circulation:

Resist the urge to respond to an email that informs you that your account is frozen or used fraudulently. Many financial institutions will usually contact customers by phone or mail.

It is a good idea to verify that the emails you receive are from a trust-worthy source before you reply. And even then, you should also always be very cautious about giving out your personal information over the internet.

Never release your account number and personal account information such as mother's maiden name and social security number to anyone you do not know. While you may not always be able to prevent bad things from happening, being careful can help minimize the risk of becoming a victim.

New Scam as of 10-28-11