Phishing by Phone
Phishing Scam With a New Approach: Fake Phone Center
Definition of Phishing: Phishing is the act of sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established, legitimate business in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.
Phishers have been utilizing emailto send fake requests to consumers for the past few years. The emails are designed to be alarming. They want your immediate attention and state that something drastic will happen without your attention. Typically, phishers will ask the emailed recipient to click on a link provided in the email and verify their personal information. Clicking on the link directs the consumer to a website that appears to be legitimate and with whom the consumer probably has an account. However, the website that loads is fake and is designed to collect personal information behind the scenes. Most consumers have learned not to click on or to react to these emails.
A New Approach: Relentless, phishers are now using a new approach. Their new approach still starts with an alarming email. This time, however, they ask the consumer to call a phone number as opposed to clicking a link. The phisher sets up a fake phone number and a fake automated call center to give consumers the appearance that they are calling a legitimate business. The greeting asks the consumer to enter their personal information such as a social security number and credit card number. This is designed to trick the caller into giving away personal information once they call this fake phone center.
Corning Credit Union, as well as other reputable businesses, will never send an email asking you to verify your identity or other personal information, either by phone or via the Internet. If you receive an email asking you to do any of the aforementioned activities, simply do not follow the instructions and contact the business directly (using their published phone number, not one contained in their email) asking to verify the validity of the email request.
