Consumer Alert: Email Scams and Phone Fraud
Posted by Alerts For Consumers at Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:39:00 GMT and is filed under Consumer Intelligence Alerts,Consumer Information 
Categories: Identity theft, consumer alert, vishing, email scam, phone fraud
Today's thief uses 800 numbers and clones web sites to steal account information. Emails and text messages are not always the secure reminders they appear to be. Internet and cell phone subscribers are increasingly vulnerable to "vishing" attempts. These digitally transmitted messages are scams to commandeer personal account information or even steal your identity.
Here's how it works:
- A consumer receives a message by text or email, notifying them of a security breach. In other cases, scoundrels will send a fake alert that account information is temporarily deactivated or suspended.
- When the unsuspecting policyholder contacts the phone number detailed in the notification or clicks on the link shown in the email, the wrongdoers are on the other end of the data transmittal.
- Meanwhile, the perpetrators make off with your personal account information.
To protect your information, always use the number printed on your statement or credit card to contact the organization. Crooks set up 800 numbers to mislead consumers into sharing their account information (passwords, social security number, mother's maiden name, etc.,). As for emails, never respond or use the links embedded in the message body--as they are replicated and programmed to appear like the official sites.
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Holly Bentz (c) 2008 fruitionmedia.net
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