Don’t get hooked in phishing scam

Wed., Aug. 30, 2006

David Uffington King Features Syndicate

Scams all have one goal: to help you part with your dollars. The only difference is the methods the scammers use. Here are some of the latest ones:

• You get a call with a message supposedly from your bank. The message tells you that, due to too many attempts to enter your account to check your balance, a block has been put on for your safety. To unblock your access, you need to call the number given. When you call, of course you’re instructed to give your account number and access code. Since the call is from your own bank (you believe), you tap in the information — and then they have you. The call wasn’t from your bank. It was from a scammer who now has your account number and the access number.

Your protection: Never call a number that is given to you this way. Call the bank phone number you normally call and ask about your account.

• If you’ve signed up to receive e-mails from your bank or to access your account online, you might fall for this one: You receive an e-mail that appears to be from the bank. It says someone tried to get into your account, and that you need to confirm that it wasn’t you. You’ll be given a link to a Web page that looks just like your bank’s page. You type in your account number and your password — and again, they’ve got you. It’s not your bank’s Web site. The info you type in goes to the scammers, who now have complete access to your money.

Your protection: Do not sign up to receive any e-mail communications from your bank or to access your account online. Then, if you do receive e-mail, you’ll know it’s bogus.

Second best protection: Learn to read HTML, the code for Web pages. When directed to a Web page, you’ll be able to check the source code behind the page and see where the information is actually going.

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