Avoid being a victim of phishing scams

California Bankers Association offers tips to consumers

SACRAMENTO - October 15, 2005 -- Due to an enormous increase in activity of "phishing" scam artists across the country, the California Bankers Association (CBA) is offering tips to consumers to help keep them from becoming victims of phishing scams.

The typical "phishing" scam works this way: A consumer receives an e-mail from what appears to be a financial institution or retailer, asking them to please confirm all of their account information and other identifying information. Though the e-mail looks like it is legitimate and from the financial institution or retailer, it is a scam front. All of the information entered by the consumer is then used by fraudsters to access credit and bank accounts or commit ID theft.

Phishing tips for consumers:

Never give out your personal financial information in response to an unsolicited phone call, fax or e-mail, no matter how official it may seem.

Do not respond to e-mail that may warn of dire consequences unless you validate your information immediately. Contact the company to confirm the e-mail's validity using a telephone number or Web address you know to be genuine.

Check your credit card and bank account statements regularly and look for unauthorized transactions, even small ones. Some thieves hope small transactions will go unnoticed. Report discrepancies immediately.

When submitting financial information to a Web site, look for the padlock or key icon at the bottom of your browser, and make sure the Internet address begins with "https." This signals that your information is secure during transmission.

Report suspicious activity to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center.

If you have responded to an email, contact your bank immediately so they can protect your account and your identity.

Information about CBA
Established more than 110 years ago, the California Bankers Association (CBA) is one of the largest state banking trade associations in the country. CBA leads the way in developing relevant educational and legislative solutions to some of California's more pressing financial and banking issues, including adult financial empowerment, identity theft, financial privacy, and financial elder abuse. CBA's membership includes more than 300 of California's commercial, industrial and community banks and savings associations.