‘Phishing’ is one of the most common techniques used by scammers today. If you don’t want to be a victim of this scam, it’s time to make yourself aware.
What is ‘phishing’? Phishing is when scammers trick unsuspecting victims into giving up their personal information or even bank account numbers. The way they trick victims is by sending out fake emails or setting up fraudulent websites that appear legitimate, asking you to input your information. These types of scams are from the 90s but are still popular today.
More advanced identity thieves often make their websites and emails appear like a legitimate company and even copy the look and logo of existing companies. The hope is the victim will have already done business with the company, hence trusting whatever ‘company’ sends them information and following the prompts to input their information.
Phishing scams affect online business owners too, but in a different way than it affects consumers. Consumers are more cautious in making online transactions because of phishing scams and the way they prey on unsuspecting victims. The Federal Trade Commission works against the perpetrators of such cyber crimes and encourages people to be careful when giving information away, especially over the internet.
Most credit card companies accept online applications, but not every website can be trusted. Before you fill in your next online application with your personal information, make sure the company you’re dealing with is reputable. The Better Business Bureau is a good source for figuring out who can be trusted because they log records of consumer complaints. However, no complaint record doesn’t mean you’re safe. Do as much research as you can ti find out more about the company and their practices.
Another important tip is using a site that operates on a secure server. You can easily tell the difference between a safe site and a not-so-safe site if you know what to look for. First, the URL should say ‘https://.’ The ‘s’ at the end of ‘https://’ means the site is secure. There will also be a tiny icon that looks like a lock in the bottom right side of your browser window. The site is safe when it is in the ‘locked’ position.
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