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Organizations Warn 'No Phishing'
WASHINGTON -- Visa USA, the Better Business Bureau, Call For Action, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Treasury Department today announced a joint education campaign to help consumers "cut the line on phishing scams."During the campaign, Visa, The Treasury Department, the Better Business Bureau, Call For Action and the FTC will educate consumers on how to identify phishing scams; how to avoid becoming a victim; and how to report a suspicious e-mail. Comprehensive phishing resources will be available on the Internet for consumers at http://www.visa.com/phishing, http://www.bbb.org/phishing, http://www.callforaction.org/ and http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft.Phishing is an e-mail scam in which fraudsters attempt to convince consumers to reveal personal information -- such as their credit or debit account numbers, checking account information, Social Security numbers, and banking account passwords -- through official-looking fake Web sites or in a reply e-mail. According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, phishing scams grew 180% from March to April of 2004."Protecting cardholders is Visa's highest priority, and through education, we can prevent cardholders from taking the phishing bait," said Doug Michelman, Visa USA executive vice president. "Consumers should know how these scams work and should be suspicious of any e-mail that requests account information."Many financial institutions use e-mail to communicate with customers and direct them to their Web sites where the customers may be asked to enter personal information as part of registering for a service, such as online banking or accessing account information. However, if the e-mail wasn't initiated in response to an action by the consumer, it's a good idea to go directly to the organization's Web site by entering the Web site's address rather than linking to it from an e-mail.Several tools have been put in place in recent years to help stop the spread of identity theft, "but as identity thieves change their tactics, public awareness becomes even more important," said Wayne Abernathy, assistant secretary for financial institutions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury."These 'phishers' are sailing under false colors," said Howard Beales, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "They're deliberately misrepresenting themselves just to get their hooks into consumers' personal and financial information. Like fish that's been around for a few days, this practice really stinks.If consumers aren't careful, they could find themselves the fish of the day," he added."This phishing doesn't use a rod and reel, rather it uses the Internet and its intent is to catch consumers who aren't aware of this scam. That's why this education campaign is so important," said Shirley Rooker, president of Call For Action."Only phonies phish for info," said Ken Hunter, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. "Consumers and businesses can protect themselves by following one simple rule: When in doubt, delete."Visa USA, the Better Business Bureau, Call For Action, the FTC and the Treasury Department are recommending consumers protect themselves from phishing scams by doing the following:Treat unsolicited e-mail requests for financial information or other personal data with suspicion. Unsolicited means the e-mail wasn't initiated in response to an action by the consumer. Do not reply to the unsolicited e-mail or respond by clicking on a link within the unsolicited e-mail message.Contact the actual business that supposedly sent the e-mail to verify if it is genuine. Visit a secure Web site or call a phone number that you know to be legitimate.Only enter personal information on a secure Web site that you know to be legitimate. Card issuers should never ask you to send Social Security numbers, account numbers, passwords, or PINs within an e-mail message. When entering personal data at a Web site, look for a "locked padlock" in the browser or "https" at the beginning of the Web site address to make sure the site is secure.Update anti-virus software and security patches to system software regularly. Phishing emails can contain viruses that may harm your computer if opened.Be cautious. Check your monthly statements to verify all transactions. Notify your bank immediately of any erroneous or suspicious transactions.Forward any suspicious e-mails to the Federal Trade Commission at [email protected] or file a complaint with the FTC at www.ftc.gov.You can also forward unsolicited e-mails claiming to be from Visa or your Visa card issuer to [email protected]."We know consumers are concerned about fraud and identity theft, and that's why in addition to our 'Cut the Line on Phishing' efforts, we have invested heavily in state-of-the-art technologies to verify personal information, prevent fraud, and detect it at its earliest stages," said Michelman.In addition to making comprehensive phishing resources available online, Visa USA, the Better Business Bureau, Call For Action and the FTC will reach consumers in the following ways:Visa USA will be working with its issuing banks by providing cardholder statement inserts.The Better Business Bureau system will inform consumers by issuing media alerts through local BBBs, publishing articles in local newsletters and on local Bureau Web sites, and encouraging BBBOnLine participating merchants and other BBB members to link from their Web sites to anti-phishing resources on the www.bbb.org site.Call For Action will notify its network of consumer hotlines and inform consumers through its broadcast network of 24 top-rated radio and television stations, which reaches over 40 million consumers. Call For Action also will help victims of identity theft by providing counselors through a toll free hotline sponsored by Visa. The toll-free number is 1-866-ID-HOTLINE.The FTC maintains a comprehensive website (www.consumer.gov/idtheft) that contains consumer and business education materials about identity theft. Consumers can learn how to prevent identity theft and what to do if their identity is stolen. They can also file identity theft related complaints with the FTC at 1-877-ID-THEFT.Visit Visa USA at www.visa.comVisit the Better Busines Bureau at www.bbbonline.orgVisit the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov Visit Call For Action at www.callforaction.org Visit ID Theft at www.consumer.gov/idtheft "