How to Avoid Being a Victim of Phishing Scams Online

The Internet has changed the way that our world works. With endless information waiting, only a click away, it is easy to see how beneficial the Internet is for our world. But, the Internet can also be a scary place. Have you ever been suspicious of a website that you visited? Unfortunately, there are scams all over the Internet.

Staying educated about scams is a great way to avoid falling into any traps. Recently, phishing has become more and more popular in the scamming world. Understanding what phishing is and how you can avoid it may prevent a lot of wasted time, lost resources and stress.

First, phishing is a scheme that involves people stealing other people’s personal information. This means that they will look for your social security number, financial account numbers, PIN numbers, mothers’ maiden names or any other personal information that they need. So, to avoid these technological identity thieves, you should….

• Be wary of “phishy” emails. When you get an e-mail from a source that is claiming to be a bank, government agency, or any other organization, you should be wary. When these emails ask for you to confirm your personal information, absolutely do not provide your information!
• When you open an e-mail do not click on an e-mail within the e-mail, when they are asking for your personal information.
• When a pop-up screen comes up, do not enter your personal information.
• Keep your spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software updated.
• If you should come across something that seems like a phishing scam, report it! Let’s get these people off of the Internet.