‘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.

Advanced scammers often use the same logos and designs as real-world companies so as to appear legitimate. These ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ will then trick victims out of their information by directing them to a website asking them to input their information. Those who fall for this scam often do so because they are unaware of the scam and have done business with the company before, so they don’t think anything of receiving an email or link from the company.

Consumers aren’t the only ones affected by phishing scams. Business owners can be targets too, especially if they do business online. Because such online scams exist, consumers are wary to make online purchases, fearing their information might be stolen and used. The Federal Trade Commission works to prevent and prosecute such crimes and wants consumers to be vigilant when working with their personal information online.

Not every website can be trusted with your online information. Before you decide to input any of your personal information or bank account information into an online application, it’s important to make sure the company you’re dealing with is reputable. Check the company’s track record with the Better Business Bureau. Consumers can record complaints against particular companies with the organization so it’s easy to see whether or not a company is trust worthy. Even so, finding nothing wrong doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Do as much digging as possible to find out the real story behind a company.

Always use a site with a secure server. It’s easy to tell the difference between a site with a secure server and one without a secure server if you know what to look for. The URL should say ‘https://,’ which means it is a secure site. Also, there will be an icon that looks like a lock at the bottom right hand side of your browser window. When it is in the ‘locked’ position, you are looking at a secure server site.

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