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Phishing -
Vishing
How Consumers Can Prevent Identity Theft
More than ever, consumers need to be wary
of scams, and
to be careful to whom they provide personal information.
Fraudsters have recently introduced a new
twist on the "phishing" e-mail, with a scam known as "vishing" - which is
short for "voice phishing".
A phishing
e-mail is a fraudulent e-mail sent, supposedly, by a "bank" or another "financial
institution".
At first glance, this type of e-mail message
may seem legitimate, since it usually contains a familiar-looking logo, or a link to a Web site
that appears to be that of a financial institution.
The e-mail asks you to provide, or to verify,
personal information such as a credit card number, or a password for accessing your banking account,
on the pretext that a "security breach" has occurred, or that you need to respond to
"keep your account active".
The vishing scam hooks consumers in two ways:
by e-mail and by voicemail. As with the phishing scam, the customer receives an e-mail message
that imitates the type of messages sent by on-line payment service providers such as PayPal, eBay
or your bank.
However, instead of providing a link to a
fictitious Web site, the vishing e-mail gives consumers a false Customer Support telephone number
to call. When you call this number, an automated service prompts you to "log in" by
keying in your account number and password, on the telephone keypad.
The second type of vishing scam is the vishing
phone call, where consumers receive a direct call at home, or a voicemail message, warning them
that their account is at risk, and suggesting they call Customer Support immediately. Fraud artists
may even try to gain your trust by "confirming" the personal information on you that
they have on file, such as your full name, your address or your credit card number.
Don't get
hooked!
One very important thing you should know is
that financial institutions never request sensitive information from customers, or confidential
information on their bank account, by e-mail. So, no matter how urgent or convincing the e-mail
message may be, do not give out any personal information.
What should
you do if you receive a phishing or vishing message?
If you do receive this kind of e-mail or telephone
call, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) suggests that you take the following steps:
1. Do not respond to the e-mail and never give out any personal information, such as your on-line
password, or your debit or credit card number, or personal identification number (PIN).
2. Do not use the phone number provided
in the e-mail or in the telephone message, without first making sure that it's valid. To confirm
that this phone number is valid, contact your financial institution by using the phone number
that is on the back of your debit or credit card, or on your monthly statement, or that
you, yourself, have verified in a phone listing.
3. In some cases, financial institutions
really will contact you by phone or leave you a voicemail message. This can happen if they suspect
that you have been a victim of fraud. Your financial institution may also ask you for additional
information, to make sure they are actually speaking to their client. You will not, however,
be asked to provide your PIN or password over the phone.
4. As a general rule, always be careful
about how and with whom you share personal or financial information.
What if
you are already a victim of fraud?
If you are a victim of debit or credit card
fraud and are being held liable for a fraudulent transaction - or to obtain more information on
your rights and responsibilities as a consumer - contact FCAC toll-free at: 1-866-461-3222 or
visit FCAC's Web site at www.fcac.gc.ca. FCAC
is a federal government agency that protects consumers' rights and gives them information about
financial products and services.
About the Author...
www.newscanada.com
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