Florida Consumer E-Newsletter |
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Download PDF version [823K PDF]
A Message From the Commissioner...
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Have you ever received an email message from what appears to be a reputable company asking you to verify your personal information? If so, beware… this type of scam is called “phishing." Phishing scams are becoming increasingly popular everyday. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), phishers send random emails or pop-up messages that claim to be from a business or organization that you may deal with |
Sincerely, |
Use these tips to help you avoid getting hooked by a phishing scam:
Don’t click on the link - If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply. And don’t click on the link in the message, either. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via email. If you are concerned about your account, contact the organization mentioned in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine (such as your monthly statement), or open a new Internet browser session and type in the company’s correct Web address yourself. In any case, do not cut and paste the link from the message into your Internet browser — phishers can make links look like they go to one place, but that actually send you to a different site altogether.
Don’t email personal or financial information - Email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information. If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your personal or financial information through an organization’s website, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL for a website that begins “https:” (the “s” stands for “secure”). Unfortunately, no indicator is completely foolproof; some phishers have learned how to forge security icons.
Review your financial data - Be certain to review your credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to check for unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a few days, call your credit card issuer or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.
Think before you open - Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them. These files can contain viruses or other software that can compromise your computer’s security and personal information.
Report phishing - Forward phishing emails to spam@uce.gov and to the company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email. Most organizations have information on their websites about where to report instances of phishing.
If you think you've been hooked - If you have recently released your credit card or bank account information in response to an unsolicited email, you should notify your credit card issuer or bank immediately and discuss whether you should cancel your accounts. In any event, you should carefully monitor all your credit related accounts. If you provided your Social Security number, you should contact one of the three national consumer reporting agencies, ask that a fraud alert be placed on your accounts and obtain copies of your credit reports. You also should visit the FTC's Identity Theft Website to file a complaint.
For additional consumer information visit our website. You can also call our Consumer Assistance hotline at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) from within Florida, 850-488-2221 calling from outside Florida, or 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832) in Español, and a consumer specialist will be happy to answer any questions you may have or forward you free consumer literature by mail.
Additional Resources
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Phishing - Don't Take the Bait
Phishing is a high-tech scam that uses spam, pop-up messages and emails to deceive you into disclosing your credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information. Learn more...
The links below are for your information only. The goal of the Division of Consumer Services is to provide additional information to consumers. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services does not review or confirm these sites for accuracy.
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STOP . THINK . CLICK Do you want to guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer and protect your personal information? OnGuardOnline.gov provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information. |
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Anti-Phishing Working Group
The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) is the global pan-industrial and law enforcement association focused on eliminating the fraud and identity theft that result from phishing, pharming and email spoofing of all types.
Cut the Line on Phishing Scams
There is a new type of phishing out there, and it doesn't require a rod or a reel. This type of phishing is a scam that uses emails to steal information from consumers.
