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Be Safe Online!
Education on "Phishing"
What is phishing?
Phishing is a term coined by Internet hackers who use e-mail lures to 'fish' passwords and financial data from the sea of Internet users. E-mail messages designed to look like they came from a merchant or financial institution are mailed to Internet users. The e-mails direct you to update or provide information back to the company's website by instructing you to click on a URL (web address link) embedded within the e-mail. The embedded URL then links you to a counterfeit website designed to look like the company's legitimate website. Passwords and other personal information are then solicited and collected by the website and used by the spammer to defraud the user. To date, large financial institutions have been the primary targets of these phishing scams.
What can you do to protect yourself?
Do not trust or act upon unsolicited e-mails that request personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, ATM PINs, social security numbers, etc. Note:
- Fraudulent e-mails are typically not personalized with financial institution information.
- Fraudulent e-mails often present members with scenarios of negative consequences if they do not act immediately on the e-mail's instructions.
- Fraudulent e-mails often contain flawed English.
Do not fill out forms contained in e-mail messages requesting sensitive information!
- Personal information should be provided by calling your financial institution directly or by logging onto their secure website by typing the URL (web address) into your browser.
- Type your financial institution's URL (web address) into your browser and bookmark it. Use this bookmark for all subsequent visits to your financial institution's website.
Keep your web browser patches up to date! Regularly access your browser's website to download security patches. Patching your browser regularly will protect you against a variety of software vulnerabilities.
Regularly log in to your online accounts. If you see anything unusual, report it immediately to your financial institution.
Pay close attention to your bank, credit card and debit card statements. If you see anything suspicious, immediately contact your financial institution and the card issuer.
If you receive an e-mail claiming to be from your financial institution, but which you suspect is aimed at defrauding you, contact your financial institution immediately.
Have further questions? We're here to help! Stop by one of our convenient locations, call us at 517.787.2060 or 877.894.5033 today or e-mail us at email@eecu.us. Please remember not to send confidential information via e-mail.
Additional Identity Theft Resources
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