In light of National Protect Your Identity Week, Attorney General Richard Cordray warned Ohioans to be wary of e-mail scams soliciting personal information such as account numbers, passwords and Social Security numbers. These scam e-mails, commonly known as “phishing,” often are cleverly designed so that they appear to be from a legitimate company such as a bank or online payment service, or a government agency such as the IRS.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office receives hundreds of complaints per year from Ohioans who have fallen victim to phishing.

One of those was from a consumer in Grafton, who received an e-mail from a major retail store asking her to fill out a “customer satisfaction survey.” The e-mail promised to reward her $100 if she filled out the survey and provided her credit card number, expiration date and verification number.

Consumers should investigate companies that request personal information before sharing it. A five-minute phone call can save months or even years of untangling the mess of identity theft.

To avoid phishing scams, remember the following:

• Contact the institution yourself: Don’t respond to unsolicited requests for your personal information. Instead, contact the organization at a phone number or a Web address you know to be correct.
• Don’t click on links in e-mails: Links and attachments can make your computer vulnerable to viruses.
• Look for warning signs: Misspelled words or a lack of personal greetings may signal fraud. However, the presence of a personal greeting or a lack of errors does not guarantee legitimacy. Always be skeptical.
• Use spam filters, anti-virus software, anti-spyware software and a firewall: Update your security software regularly.
• Don’t give out personal information via e-mail: E-mail is not a secure method of transmitting personal information. A bank or governmental agency will never request personal information via e-mail.
• Monitor your accounts: Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them. If you find unauthorized charges, immediately notify your bank or credit card provider.
• Report phishing scams to the company or organization the scam artist is impersonating and to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Links

Identity theft prevention tips – Ohio Attorney General’s Office

Protect Your Id Now – National Protect Your Identity Week