FTC sounds phishing scam alarm
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has alerted consumers to the risks posed by a phishing scam during the current economic turbulence.
According to the government body, a number of phishing scams are currently looking to capitalize on the financial crisis.
Computer users are told to look out for spam emails which appear to be from their banks - but which might actually be from fraudsters.
"Scammers are taking advantage of upheavals in the financial marketplace to confuse consumers into parting with valuable personal information," the FTC asserts.
At such times, the federal body adds that phishing scams are likely to suggest that they are from an organization which has acquired the recipient's bank, mortgage, savings or loan.
"The financial institution where you did business last week may have a new name today," the FTC notes.
But it stresses that email recipients should not follow links which ask them to verify personal information either by clicking on them or by copying and pasting them into a browser window.
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