Phishing

Phishing scams are on the rise. These fraudulent e-mail messages trick recipients into giving out sensitive information by imitating legitimate sites—banks, credit card companies, eBay, or others.

These legitimate looking Web pages may ask you to click a link to "verify" or "confirm" sensitive data like your bank account numbers.  These Web sites may have the look and feel of the “real” company Web site and may even display the secure-site lock icon.  But if you type in your information it does not go to the company but to thieves who could use your information and your identity for illegal purposes.

For more information, visit the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Alert at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt127.shtm