What is Internet 'phishing'?
Phishing is an online scam that uses a replica of an existing Web site or email you are familiar with to "spoof" or fool you into submitting personal, financial, or password information. The high-tech scammer uses spam to deceive consumers into disclosing their credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security numbers, and other sensitive information.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the emails pretend to be from businesses the potential victims deal with - for example, their Internet service provider (ISP), online payment service or bank. The fraudsters tell recipients that they need to "update" or "validate" their billing information to keep their accounts active, and direct them to a "look-alike" Web site of the legitimate business, further tricking consumers into thinking they are responding to a bona fide request. Unknowingly, consumers submit their financial information - not to the businesses - but the scammers, who use it to order goods and services and obtain credit.
Wakefield Co-operative Bank will never email you or email an Internet link that requests you to input personal information such as your account number. We caution you to make sure you are dealing with the correct company over the Internet and to understand what will be done with your information. Always check that you have typed the correct website address before entering personal information onto any website.
What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.
Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years - and their hard-earned money - cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, be refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even be arrested for crimes they didn't commit.
Tips to Avoid Being Victimized
To help protect you from 'phishing' and identify theft, the FTC, the nation's consumer protection agency, offers this guidance:
- If you get an email that warns you, with little or no notice, that an account of yours will be shut down unless you reconfirm your billing information, do not reply or click on the link in the email. Instead, contact the company cited in the email using a telephone number or Web site address you know to be genuine.
- Avoid emailing personal and financial information. Before submitting financial information through a Web site, look for the "lock" icon on the browser's status bar. It signals that your information is secure during transmission.
- Keep your deposit and withdrawals slips, credit card receipts and bills, bank statements; personal identification numbers (PINs) and any other documents that bear your Social Security number and other personal information where they will be safe.
- Tear up or shred credit card receipts, bank statements and unused credit card offers before throwing them away. Opt out of pre-approval credit offers by calling 1-888-50PT-OUT.
- Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to determine whether there are any unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.
- Report suspicious activity to the FTC. Send the actual email spam to uce@ftc.gov. If you believe you've been scammed, file your complaint at www.ftc.gov, and then visit the FTC's Identity Theft Web site (www.ftc.gov/idtheft).
If you think your identity has been stolen, here's what to do now:
Step 1: Protect your finances
Contact the three major credit reporting agencies to put yourself on Fraud Alert and request a copy of your credit report:
Equifax - www.equifax.com
To order your report, call: 800-685-1111 or write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
To report fraud, call: 800-525-6285 and write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian - www.experian.com
To order your report, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or write: P.O. Box 2002, Allen TX 75013
To report fraud, call: 888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) and write: P.O. Box 9530, Allen TX 75013
Trans Union - www.transunion.com
To order your report, call: 800-888-4213 or write: P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022
To report fraud, call: 800-680-7289and write: Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634
Step 2: Close all compromised accounts
Contact your financial institutions and credit card issuers immediately. Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
Step 3: File a police report
You will need a police report to dispute unauthorized charges and for any insurance claims. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.
Step 4: File your complaint
File your complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps the FTC learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having so they can better assist you.
