Avoid Becoming a “CyberVictim”
Unwanted email messages can be more than a nuisance. Many contain a scam known as “phishing,” which attempts to obtain vital personal financial information. Consumer Reports projects that one million U.S. consumers lost billions of dollars in the past two years to such scams. Here are some tips to help you avoid being a “cybervictim.”
- Be suspicious of any email with urgent requests for personal financial information.
- “Phisher” emails are typically not personalized, while valid messages from your bank or e-commerce company generally are.
- If you suspect the message may not be authentic, don’t use the links in an email to get to any web page.
- Avoid filling out forms in email messages that ask for personal financial information.
- Always ensure that you’re using a secure website when submitting credit card or other sensitive information. To make sure that you’re using a secure web server, check the beginning of the address in your address bar. It should be “https://” rather than just “http://.”
- Regularly log into your online accounts to ensure that all transactions are legitimate.
- Ensure that your browser is up to date and that security patches are applied.
- Report “phishing” emails to spam@uce.gov or notify the FBI’s Internet Fraud Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
