Consumer Beware!
Please remember to be careful with all emails you receive at home and at work. Now more than ever, emails are being sent by companies, financial institutions, credit card companies that we all do business with on a regular basis. They can look the like real thing, but are not.
For example, lets say you get and email to update account information on your current credit card. Do not respond to this type of request by email. Instead, go in your wallet or where ever you keep the credit card and call the telephone number listed on the card and let them know you received this email that had their information on it. The credit card company will most likely ask that you forward the email to them. At no time does a reputable bank or credit card company ask you for updates af any type of information via your email. Always call yourself direct.
If you have employees never allow them to respond to any type of financial email requests.
When ordering items on-line do not provide your credit card information through an email, always try and do it the old fashioned way by calling the number provided yourself.
Within four years, 1 in 4 of us will be victims of identity theft.
If your going thru a divorce, be very careful where and to whom you release personal information. Never, Never apply for credit or fill out an application online.
Here is an example of an email asking for information-it may look offical and I may do business with them, but this is a scam email.
Dear Bank of America Online Banking Member:
It has become to our attention that your account information is out of date. This require you to update your Bank of America Online Banking information as soon as possible.
This update is also a new Bank of America security statement, which goes according to the established norms on our terms of service (TOS) to reduce the instance of fraud on our website.
However, the failure to update your Bank of America account information will result in account suspension.
To update your records, please click on the following link:
http://online.bankofamerica.com/secure/update/ID=Kl100Btk76
Sincerely, The Bank of America Accounts Management Department.
Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC - © 2005 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.
Susan Murphy-Milano-www.movingoutmovingon.com/bookinfo.html
