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Phishing

What is Phishing?

The term "phishing" - as in fishing for confidential information - is an e-mail scam that encompasses fraudulently obtaining and using an individual's personal or financial information.

How does phishing work?

In a typical case, the consumer receives an e-mail requesting personal or financial information; the e-mail appears to come from a reputable company that you recognize and may do business with, such as your financial institution. The provided link appears to be the Web site of the financial institution, government agency or other entity. However, in "phishing" scams, the link is not to an official Web site, but rather to a phony Web site. Once inside that Web site, the recipient may be asked to provide Social Security numbers, account numbers, passwords or other information used to verify their identity, such as the maiden name of the consumer’s mother or place of birth. If the consumer provides the requested information, those perpetrating the fraud can begin to access their accounts or assume their identity.

What should I look for?

Here are some common signs to look for:

• They urge the recipient to click on a link to update or verify account information.
• They convey a sense of urgency and often mention negative consequences for failing to respond.
• They do not contain any personalization: the recipient’s name, the last four digits of their account number, or other information that shows that the sender knows something about the recipient’s account.
• They are unexpected and are not consistent with other emails from the business.
• They often contain spelling errors and bad grammar.

What should I do if I receive a suspicious e-mail?

• Do not respond to the email and do not click on the link found in it.
• If you are unsure of its authenticity, call a phone number you trust such as the one on your most recent statement, NOT the one in the email, to verify the company actually sent it and to inquire about why they need your information.
• If it appears to be from another company or financial institution, you can forward it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@antiphishing.org.
• Delete it from your Inbox and clean out your Deleted Items folder.
  

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Investment and insurance products and services are offered through INFINEX INVESTMENTS, INC. Member FINRA/SIPC. B.O.C. Financial Services is a trade name of Bank of Canton. Infinex is not affiliated with the bank. Products and services made available through Infinex are not insured by the FDIC or any other agency of the United States and are not deposits or obligations of nor guaranteed or insured by any bank or bank affiliate. These products are subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of value.