Social Security Phishing Alert
The Social Security Administration is warning that an email is being circulated with the words "Cost-of-Living for 2007 update" in the subject line. The message appears to be from the Social Security Administration. IGNORE IT!
The email claims to offer information about a 3.3% increase for 2007. It then asks the recipient to register for a password and to confirm their personal information, including their name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, credit card information, and bank account numbers. It claims that if the information is not provided by the recipient, they risk having their Social Security account suspended indefinitely.
The links provided in the email redirect users to a website that is designed to look like the official Social Security Administration's website.
Patrick O'Carroll, Inspector General of Social Security, recommends people always take precautions when giving out personal information. "You should never provide your Social Security number or other personal information over the Internet or by telephone unless you are extremely confident of the source to whom you are providing the information," O'Carroll said.
This email is another classic example of "phishing" - an email scam that is trying to trick you, the consumer, into revealing your personal information through a fake website.
DON'T BE FOOLED. You should NEVER, EVER respond to emails requesting your personal information, nor should you ever enter your personal information into a website linked to from an email. Legitimate companies, including Corning Credit Union and our business partners, would never send an e-mail requesting your confidential information. If you do receive an email like this from ANY vendor that you do business with, including Corning Credit Union, do not divulge your personal information and call them using their published phone number.
