What is Email Phishing?

The word ‘phishing’ in the phrase email phishing is making reference to individuals sending emails with the intent of fishing for personal information from the recipient.  The sender normally imitates a reputable company with which the recipient may have an account. The general method of the scam is to inform the recipient that there is a problem with their account in hopes of the individual sharing their personal information in order to solve the problem.

 

If the individual clicks on the email, it will more than likely connect the person to a website that looks familiar. It will appear as the website of the company with which the individual has an account. Closer inspection may however prove that it is not. However, even if it looks exactly the same one should refrain from responding to it. Note that sharing personal information over the Internet is not recommended if security is a major concern. In fact, individuals should never share personal information in unsolicited conversations whether over the Internet or over the telephone. These phishing scams are also perpetrated over the phone. Therefore, individuals should always be on guard.

 

What the Email May Include

 

• It will appear professional using the name of a popular company


• There may be spelling errors in the message or in the company’s name. If the grammar in the mail is atrocious then chances are it is not from a reputable institution.


• Threats are not of a personal nature but rather they usually warn the recipient that accounts will have to be closed if certain measures are not taken, for example.


• Website links are usually present in the emails. You should avoid clicking on any links that are found in the email to avoid being directed to unscrupulous sites. These websites may have on them viruses and other threats to the PC.

 

Most email accounts give the user the chance not only to file the message as spam but to also to report it as a phishing or junk email.

 

The end purpose of email phishing is to use the victim’s personal information to steal their identity. Identity fraud is a genuine predicament and it has become more popular since the increase usage of the web. Using the web to conduct personal business and sharing confidential information in this insecure setting makes it easier for criminals.  Credit card and identity theft both place the individual’s finances and reputation at risk.  Many individuals have fallen prey to these crimes. However, if that is the case it should be reported quickly to the relevant authorities.  Many emails have been sent by individuals claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and even the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). These government organizations are aware of the issue and have information on their websites on how the situation should be handled. Individuals should make themselves aware of the latest Internet scams so as to effectively protect themselves.

 

Email Fraud Reporting

 

Most individuals that are victims of a fraud, regardless of the type, are unwilling to report the crime to the authorities out of embarrassment, possibly because they fell for what afterwards seems obvious. They may even feel guilty. The victims can make a report to the police department in their area. Since many federal organizations are aware of this growing issue, they make it possible to make the report over the Internet. There is a site with the main purpose of handling crimes committed over the Internet. It is called the Internet Complaint Center (IC3). The victim of the crime can complete the relevant form that  can be found on the website.

 

Other government agencies that oversee such websites also allow for reporting over the World Wide Web. These sites are managed by the country’s Department of Justice.

 

Tips on How You Can Protect Yourself from Email Fraud                                

                          

• It is possibly hard to keep an email address private when you have signed up to multiple accounts on the Internet. There are many sites that require that you share this information with them. However, you should try as best as you can to keep the most important email addresses undisclosed.


• Installing a software that is able to filter emails that can be considered junk will do half of the work for you.


• Refrain from opening or responding to emails from individuals you do not know.


• Create passwords that are strong.

 

Emails that are offered as a part of an Internet subscription may also come equipped with parental control software. The Internet service provider (ISP) that you sign up with may also offer Internet security software with your subscription package. Such software can be used to manage the account and to prevent certain spam emails. Security software should be able to detect any threats and provide you with solutions to get rid of them.

 

Some email accounts make use of email encryption. This encryption technology is used to hide information being sent from one email to another. This technology uses secret keys to secure messages. The receiver of the email would need this key to open the message. The key is created through cryptography, which really makes a legible message appear illegible to those outside the correspondence.

 

Phishing emails are only one type of Internet fraud, others include spoofing, bogus offers, and even individuals pretending that they need assistance, usually in the monetary form.  It is essential that care be taken all the time when on the Internet to protect sensitive information

What is Email Phishing?