I recently received a very official looking email from Bank of America. It read:
“Dear Bank of America customer:
We recently have determined that different computers have logged onto your Online Banking account, and multiple password failures were present before the logons.
We now need you to re-confirm your account information to us.
If this is not completed by (date was given), we will be forced to suspend your account indefinitely, as it may have been used for fraudulent purposes. We thank you for your cooperation in this manner.”
Please note the underlined information above. The letter then provided me with a web site that also looked very official where I could provide my security information to them so they could “check it out” to make sure I was, in fact, the correct person on the account. If I was, then they would not suspend my account.
Does this look familiar? This is what is known as Plishing. In plain English, it’s how con artists rob you of your identity and strip your bank account clean. Many of you are aware of this type of official looking fraudulent email. Perhaps you’ve received similar emails from what looks like your Bank or Credit Card Company.
For others, you may not be aware of this, so I am sending this as a warning. Never, under any circumstances provide your Passwords, Social Security information, Bank or Credit Card information to ANYONE who calls or emails you with a similar request. If you have any concerns, pick up the phone and call your bank or credit card company and ask them if they called or emailed you with this type of request. Any under NO CIRCUMSTANCE, should you call the phone number the email or phone caller provides you. This phone number is also phony and will be answered in a very official way by the person who is attempting to steal from you.
I’ve often told my clients, I may be a Realtor, but I’m also here to help you any way I can. That’s why I thought it might be best to send this to everyone, even though it has nothing to do with real estate.
I received my letter in the mail but sometimes this type of letter is sent to your email address. If you ever get an email you are unsure about you can check its validity by typing in the subject of the email at Google.com or by looking on http://hoax.com/
I hope this has been helpful and you will “pass this on” to others who may not be aware of what Plishing is or how it works.
For information on Protecting your Laptop click here.
Would you like to make a comment on this article? At the end of each of these weekly messages, there’s a place at the end of each article for you to add comments. Just Click on “No Comment,” it will open up and you can write your comments here. It’s a great place for you to “let YOUR thoughts be known on the various articles written. Be My Guest………I‘d love to hear from you! Others would too!
Brought to You By Your Favorite Realtor,
Nancy Hankin
www.PalmSpringsHomesAndEstates.com
