Phishing and the Economic Crisis

 

Criminals are opportunistic and prey on people's vulnerabilities. In tumultuous times, like the economic storm we are living through, criminals seek and seize new opportunities that are directly related to people's anxiety and tied to the current events of the day.

 

Phishing, the collection of personal information for criminal purposes by posing as a legitimate business, is no exception. The most common form of phishing is the fake email that looks exactly like an email you might get from your financial institution or other business.  They often seek immediate action to rectify a problem with your account and request you click through a link to fix it. The link is to a fake, or spoofed, website that looks like the real thing. When a logon name, password and any other information is entered, the cyber criminal has collected what they need to hijack an account.

 

True to form, cyber criminals engaged in phishing, were quick to tailor their scam approaches. Last week the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), one of the leading government agencies fighting phishing, issued an alert about phishing email that used the rapid consolidation of the banking industry and confusion about the mortgage market to try and snag unknowing consumers.

 

While you are at it, check out the FTC's On Guard Online, a great site to learn about tips to prevent fraud and protect your computer. There are many great features including videos and games.

 

Another new website with great information about phishing and protecting yourself was launched by Consumer Reports at the beginning of National Cyber Security Month.  Check out Consumer Reports' Guide to Online Security.

 

Take the time to get educated about phishing and other ways to protect yourself online.