Avoid "Phishing" Scams

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a common scam, which typically involves an e-mail request that urges you to update your account information immediately.  Often times the e-mail will have a direct link to a web page for you to confirm information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers and other confidential information.  Some of your personal information may already be filled in, thus making the request seem legitimate.

How to Tell if an E-mail Message is Fraudulent

Here are a few phrases to look for if you think an e-mail message is a phishing scam:

• "Verify your account."
  Businesses should not ask you to send passwords, login names, Social Security numbers, or other personal information through e-mail.  If you receive an e-mail from The Stissing National Bank asking you to update your account information, do not respond: this is a phishing scam.  Please call our Pine Plains Office at 518-398-5500 immediately.

• "If you don't respond within 48 hours, your account will be closed."
  These messages convey a sense of urgency so that you'll respond immediately without thinking. A phishing e-mail message might even claim that your response is required because your account might have been compromised.

• "Dear Valued Customer."
  Phishing e-mail messages are usually sent out in bulk and often do not contain your first or last name.

• "Click the link below to gain access to your account."
  HTML-formatted messages can contain links or forms that you can fill out just as you would fill out a form on a website.  The links that you are urged to click may contain all or part of a real company's name and are usually "masked," meaning that the link you see does not take you to that address but somewhere different, usually a phony website.

What are the Risks of Responding to Phishing E-Mails?

First, phishers can use the data to access existing accounts of those Internet users, and withdraw money or buy expensive merchandise or services.

Second, phishers can use the data to open new bank or credit card accounts in the victims' names, and use the new accounts to cash bogus checks or buy merchandise. If the phishers open those new accounts with the victims' names, but use addresses other than the victims', the Internet users may not realize that they have become victims of identity theft until they are contacted by creditors or they check their credit reports.

Third, recent phishing schemes have involved the use of computer viruses and worms to disseminate the phishing e-mails to still more people.

What Should I Do to Avoid Becoming a Victim?

You can avoid becoming a victim by understanding and following these tips:

• Never provide your detailed personal or financial information to an unsolicited telephone call, fax, letter or e-mail.

• Do not give your password to an unsolicited e-mail request.  Financial institutions do not verify this information via the internet.

• Use SPAM filters to help reduce the number of fraudulent e-mails received

• Do not be fooled by the financial institution's logos or links to their web page being present in an e-mail.  It is very easy for thieves to create links to legitimate websites.

• If you believe that the request is legitimate, contact the institution looking for the information directly.  Use a local or nationwide directory to obtain the phone number.  Do not use the number given on the initial request.

• Review all account statements on a regular basis to monitor any suspicious activity.

  
  

Related Sites and Information

Federal Trade Commission Phishing Information:  http://www.ftc.gov/phishing
OnGuard Online:  http://onguardonline.gov/phishing.html

Please note:  The Stissing National Bank will never send you an e-mail notification requesting your user name, password or other personal information for any reason.

Should you have any reason to believe that you have provided information through an unauthorized solicitation, contact your local branch immediately.  You should also contact the three major credit bureaus to request a fraud alert be placed on your credit report.

Equifax: 1-800-685-1111
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: 1-800-888-4213