Catch Any Phishy E-Mails?

  • Visa customers started receiving e-mails last December saying that because of security threats, they needed to update their personal information. But the e-mail was the threat: it was an example of a growing cyberfraud called "phishing." Fraudsters pose as companies and government agencies by setting up credible-sounding e-mail addresses and look-alike websites to get consumers to hand over passwords and other information. Be suspicious of requests to provide information a second time and queries from anyone you haven't spoken to before. Call the company to confirm that the e-mail is legit. If you get phished, call your bank and credit-card companies, and report the fraud at www.ftc.gov and reportphishing@antiphishing.org .