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Another Identity Theft Scam

I love online forums. I’ve made lasting good friendships in the communities built on the message boards. For the most part the people in the forums get along well because they’re there to discuss a common topic and want to help each other. Unfortunaately people come along whose only interest is to disrupt. They like the chaos they can create through anonymity. They may fill out the profile information, but there’s usually nothing genuine in there. Online communities call these people trolls, because they are trolling the forums. It’s a takeoff of a fishing term: trawling. Trawlers drag a wide net behind their boats knowing they’ll catch something. It’s what trolls do on message boards, and someone always falls in the net.

There’s a similar term in the business world: Phishing. Phishing is easier to identify what it is because it sounds the same as where it comes from. When someone goes fishing, he has bait or a lure on the end of a line. He waits for a bite and reels the fish in. People who want to steal your financial information phish for information from you.

Have you ever received an email from an entity you do business with? The email looks official, but it asks you to provide information to protect yourself. This is phishing. The email sender has thrown out the line and hopes you’ll bite. If he reels you in, you’ll provide the information he needs to steal your money or identity.

The latest method for phishing is through phone text. There’s enough plausible information that you might respond. Don’t. The best thing you can do is contact your financial institution directly. Do not use the number listed in the text or reply to the email. Companies you do business with already have your information and do not need to contact you for it.