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Phishing is the practice of sending fraudulent email messages supposedly from a legitimate company or organization in order to trick someone into giving out personal and confidential information. This information could include a user ID, password, credit card number or even a Social Security number. At its most basic level, Phishing is a form of identity theft. It is one of the fastest growing cyber crimes, and there are estimates that 1 in 20 people who receive a Phishing email will respond to it with their personal information. Since the criminals who send out these Phishing messages are good at what they do, it's important to be able to recognize a Phishing email so you won't respond to their request and become a victim of identity theft. Here are a few signs that the message you have received might just be a Phishing expedition.

Credit Pacific Service Union . The email message is generic. Phishing emails are sent out in bulk to thousands of people, so you'll see a generic greeting like 'Dear Valued Customer' and not directly addressed to you by name.

Credit First Service Union . The message gives a false sense of urgency. Phishing emails are developed and designed specifically to push the recipient to immediate action. If there is no compelling reason to respond to the message, you won't. But if there is a fear of some kind of consequence for not providing the requested information you might just be motivated to act quickly.
This fear, urgency or even panic created by a Phishing email begins right with the subject line. Here are a few examples from actual Phishing messages:
'Online Alert: Online Account is Blocked'

lists reasons why an account may be suspended. You received an email request to update your credit card information for your account. First, confirm that the email you received was really from eBay. Sign in to eBay, go to My eBay, and check My Messages. For rmation, see Recognize Spoof Mails. Solving Credit and Debit Card Problems lists the situations when eBay will ask you for your credit or debit card information.

Card Credit Mobile Service 'Fraud Report'

- Cloudmark Inc., grade messaging security, today announced the results of a survey conducted on its behalf by YouGov, which revealed that public confidence in consumer brands is dramatically affected by phishing attacks, with 42% of people surveyed feeling that their trust in a brand would be greatly reduced if they received a phishing email claiming to be from that company. The survey also showed that the majority of consumers feel that the responsibility for protection against phishing attacks lies with themselves, their service provider and the service provider that transported the phishing emails.

Card Credit Discover Service 'Credit Card Declined Notice'

The number of websites dedicated to the act of phishing has increased, it has been revealed. August 2005 Launch of new email protection service McAfee has announced the launch of its Secure Messaging Service for Small Businesses and Enterprises to help businesses secure their email systems. The service protects those managing small firms, and those looking to start their own business, against the growth of spam, phishing, viruses and directory harvest attacks, while providing email privacy and security.

Credit Public Service Union 'Unauthorized Account Access'

If the email message you received is not located in My Messages, proceed with caution. Some members have reported attempts to gain access to their personal information through emails impersonating eBay stating that their account has been or will be suspended. in and submit information. These emails are also known as "spoof" or "phishing" email. Learn how to recognize spoof mails.

Card Credit Processing Service The text of the message builds upon the initial sense of urgency. A message may state that your account will be closed within 24 hours if you don t verify your information. Sometimes the messages state that there has been suspicious activity on your bank account, or your credit card has been charged by an undesirable web site.

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The criminals who send out Phishing emails have taken their scam to a new level. Now people are getting Phishing messages that offer a reward for responding to the message. The newest Phishing scam is a message that states you ve won a gift card somewhere (JC Penney, Circuit City and The Sports Authority have been recent ones), and you need to click the link in the email to provide the information where the gift can be sent. Other Phishing emails offer free enrollment in a fraud protection program by clicking the link and providing the requested information.

Card Credit Service Wireless . The message states specifically "this is not a scam". How does that saying go if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck. Legitimate messages don't need to state the obvious.

Credit Security Service Union . A request is made to verify your information, and a link provided for you to do so. Phishing emails will use some tactic in order to trick the recipient into providing confidential information. This request is often tied in with the false sense of urgency created in the message. The link will take you to a very authentic looking site and ask you to fill in certain personal information. If you recognize you've made a mistake and you try to go back to a Phishing web site you probably won't find it. The average lifespan of a Phishing web site in December 2004 was 6 days.

Credit Report Service The link that is included in the email message for you to click and provide information might look legitimate, but it isn't. Often the criminals will create a web site that has almost the same name as the original web site. They might add the word "verify" or use some other word along with the company name. You should never click a hyperlink in an email, especially if you don't know who sent it to you.

Blogspot Com Christian Knowledge can be power when it comes to protecting yourself from identity theft and Phishing scams. Be aware of the tricks a criminal might do to steal your information, and don't fall prey to them.

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Colleen Durkin enjoys writing about Spyware Protection site for THR Computer Solutions.

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