Phishers focus on financial service firms

DARIEN, Conn. (3/7/05)--A new report by the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) confirms that financial service firms continue to be the leading target of phishers--con artists who use fake websites to lure unsuspecting Internet users into divulging personal information (Jupitermedia.com Feb. 28).

From December to January, the number of phishing websites supporting these fraudulent e-mails increased 47%, from 1,740 to 2,560. Of the brands most recently hijacked, eight of nine belonged to financial institutions.

The fake sites don't stay around very long. The average length of time the site is active is 5.8 days, according to APWG.

To avoid becoming a victim, APWG recommends the following:

  • Don't respond to e-mail requests that ask you to verify personal information such as username, password, credit card number, or Social Security number.
  • Be suspicious if the e-mail message asks you to respond immediately.
  • Don't click on web links within an e-mail message if you suspect a scam.
  • Only use secure websites--those that have https:// rather than just http://--if you use your credit card number.
  • Log into your online accounts regularly to check for suspicious or fraudulent activity.
  • If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer as your browser, download a special patch relating to certain phishing schemes at the Microsoft Security home page: http://www.microsoft.com/security/.

For more information, read "Shield Yourself From Swindles--Scams Involving Checks, ATMs, and the 'Net" in the Home & Family Finance Resource Center money savvy section.

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