FTC Facts for Consumers: "Giving the Bounce to Counterfeit Check Scams"

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Important Information About Fraudulent E-Mails "Phishing"

The term "phishing" as in fishing for confidential information - refers to a scam that encompassess fraudulently obtaining and using an individual's personal or financial information. This is how it works:

A consumer receives an e-mail, which appears to originate from a financial institution, government agency, or other well-known/reputable entity. The message describes an urgent reason you must "verify" or "re-submit" personal or confidential information by clicking on a link embedded in the message. The provided link appears to be the Web site of the financial institution, government agency or other well-known/reputable entity, but in "phishing" scams, the Web site belongs to the fraudster/scammer. Once inside the fraudulent Web site, the consumer may be asked to provide Social Security numbers, account numbers, passwords or other information used to identify the consumer, such as the maiden name of the consumer's mother or the consumer's place of birth. When the consumer provides the information, those perpetrating the fraud can begin to access consumer accounts or assume the person's identity.

If you suspect an e-mail or Web site is fraudulent, please report this information to the bank, company or government agency, using a telephone number or e-mail address from a reliable source. Example: If the banks web page looks different or unusual, contact us directly at 516-671-4900 or 212-566-1500 to confirm that you have not landed on a copycat Web site set up by criminals. Also, contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ifccfbi.gov), a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center.