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Email Essentials > Phishing

Almost half of the UK 's Internet users have received phishing emails that try to trick them into giving away PIN and credit card numbers. Find out about phishing before you get hooked!

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Chub and Turkey meet on the Lagan Tow Path. When Chub told Turkey he wanted to tell him about 'Phishing', Turkey thought this meant 'fishing' - so he brought his fishing gear. Chub explains to Turkey that Phishing happens on the Internet. Chub tells him that there are hundreds of companies offering loans over the Internet, but people like Turkey don't check that they're legitimate, which makes him an easy target for fraud through Phishing. Chub says the frauds are easy to spot when you know what to look for?so stick with him to learn more.

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How to spot a fake email

Phishers are clever. Look at this email:

From: Jonathan Killrannon, BelfastBank <j.killrannon@bellfastbank.co.uk>
To: Joanne Walls <joanne.walls@mallni.com>
Priority: Urgent
Subject: Fraud Alert

Dear valued customer,

Recently there have been a number of identity theft attempts targeting BelfastBank costomers. To safeguard you're account, you must verify your account by updating your BelfastBank PIN.

This update is requested as a precautionery measure against fraud. We have no exact indications that your details have been compromised yet.

This process is mandatory. If not completed within 48 hours, your account will be suspended.

To securely update your BelfastBank PIN, go to:

https://web.da-uk.bellfastbank.com/cgi-bin/scripts/home/visitor_homepage.jsp

Thank you for your prompt attention.

Regards,
Jonathan Hightower
Head of BELFASTCORP® Identity Theft Solutions
Copyright 2005 BELFASTCORP. All rights reserved.

Does it look OK to you? Yes? Then you're about to be caught. Find out why?

• Banks, credit card companies and businesses should not ask you to send account details, passwords, credit card numbers or any other personal information by e-mail.

• Don't be tricked by an urgent tone ? they want you to reply immediately without thinking. Call your bank or credit card company.

• Phishing e-mail messages are sent out in bulk and will not generally contain your first or last name. This is not a rule you can apply to everything, so if you are in any doubt call your bank or credit card company.

• Don't click on links ? you can be led to a fake site set up for the purpose of getting your details.

If you put your mouse on the web address on the email, the real web address is displayed in the bar at the bottom of the screen, so you know the one on this email is a fake. Fake emails may use web and email addresses that look like the real thing, but differ only slightly, so you may not notice if it's an address you use often.

Look at the address at in the email again:

j.killrannon@bellfastbank.co.uk

It is spelt with 2 Ls instead of one, which is a danger sign.

What to do if you think you've been hooked?

Worried about an email you have replied to or a link you have clicked on? Take the following steps:

• Report the incident to the relevant company or organisation - usually your own bank or credit card company.
• Change the passwords on all your accounts
• Review your credit card and bank statements every month.

Phishers know what they're about, so if you have any doubt about an email, wipe it out.

Do you know what can happen if you receive an email with an attachment? Do you know which attachments are safe to open? Find out in Email Attachments.