What is Phishing?
Phishing is a term coined by Internet hackers who use e-mail lures to 'fish' passwords and financial data from the sea of Internet users. E-mail messages designed to look like they came from a merchant or financial institution are mailed to Internet users. The e-mails direct the recipient to update or provide information back to the company's web site by instructing the user to click on a URL embedded within the e-mail. The embedded URL links the user to a counterfeit web site designed to look like the company's legitimate web site. Passwords and other personal information are then solicited and collected by the web site and used by the scammer to defraud the user.
What can you do to protect yourself?
Do not trust or act upon unsolicited e-mails that request personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, ATM PINs, social security numbers, etc.
- Fraudulent e-mails are typically not personalized with financial institution information.
- Fraudulent e-mail often presents you with scenarios of negative consequences if you do not act immediately on the e-mail's instructions.
- Fraudulent e-mail messages often contain flawed English.
Do not fill out forms contained in e-mail messages requesting sensitive information.
- Personal information should be provided by calling your financial institution (Kitsap Credit Union - (360) 662-2000) directly or by logging onto their secure website by typing in the URL (http://www.kitsapcu.org/) into your web browser.
- Type your financial institution's URL (http://www.kitsapcu.org/) into your browser and bookmark it. Use the bookmark derived from hand-typing the address for all subsequent visits to Kitsap Credit Union's website.
Keep your web browser patches up to date.
- Regularly access your browser's website to download security patches. Patching your browser regularly will protect you against a variety of software vulnerabilities.
Regularly log in to your online accounts. If you see anything unusual, report it immediately to Kitsap Credit Union.
Pay close attention to your credit union and credit card statements. If you see anything suspicious, immediately contact your financial institution and the card issuer.
If you receive an e-mail claiming to be from your financial institution, but which you suspect is aimed at defrauding you, contact your financial institution and the FBI's Internet Fraud Complaint Center at http://www.ifccfbi.gov/.
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