Phishing has become a common internet threat literally “fishes” for your personal information through bogus emails and websites. Phishing is internet piracy that seeks to obtain account numbers, passwords, Social Security information and other confidential information in order to loot your checking account or charge items on your credit cards.
You might receive an email that seems to come from a respected business, even one you have a relationship with, or a government agency. The email typically warns of a problem that you must attend to immediately using words like “Immediate Attention Required” or “Contact Us Immediately.”
In most phishing scams, clicking on the link in the email will redirect you to a fraudulent website where you are asked to enter or “verify” your financial information. If you provide your information, the scammers steal it, and you may find yourself a victim of fraud.