January 8,2009
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Don't Get Trapped in the Phish Net, Pt.2 –
– You'll know them by what they do.What they do:
- Sometimes, the more slick thieves already have some credit card information but will phish for even more. They'll give you some of your information that they've stolen, such as your credit card number, as 'proof' that they are who they say they are. Then, they'll press for key information to enable them to make safer and more extensive use of your credit cards.
- Scare people with credit card fraud warnings. This has been a primary method to cut straight to the chase. These methods are very common today all across our country. The credit card and banking industries, alike, have both issued public statements to inform us that they almost never do this. Never, by using e-mail. They strongly urge anyone confronted with these activities to only agree to call the legitimate business phone number of their lender or bank before surrendering any information concerning their credit card accounts.
- Scare people with phony computer warnings. Although, mean-spirited hackers do this just for fun, thieves have latched on to the concept for their own purposes. A very scary warning will suddenly appear, usually accompanied by a disruption on their computers. The warning will usually blame someone else for the problem and this ‘good Samaritan' stranger will offer to fix the problem right now by purchasing their $14.95 product using a credit card. Why anyone would ever trust an entity like this is hard to imagine but, people do strange things under duress.
- Pose as one of your legitimate services and threaten to cut your service (power, cell phone, etc.) off unless you make a credit card payment to them right away. As stupid as this strategy sounds, there is an epidemic across our country right now doing just that. Some even claim to be from the local Sheriff's department.