New Year's Resolution: Don't Be Reeled in by Phishers

Four Tips to Keep You Off the Hook

"Complete the necessary verification tasks within 5 days, or your account might get temporarily suspended."

This sentence is typical of those used by criminals looking to get your personal identification online using a method known as brand spoofing or "phishing."

As Daryl Campbell explained in an undated piece of the site Top Secret Software: "With Phishing...criminals set up phony but legitimate looking websites then spam you with e-mail like the one described above in the hopes of catching a percentage of Internet users. No reputable business will ever ask ask for your personal information via e-mail information."

With the Federal Trade Commission estimating that identity theft will have cost consumers $6 billion in 2006, and with online commerce growing more ubiquitous, savvy consumers (including eBayers and online other auction customers) should take steps to keep themselves protected.

To keep you from getting hooked, ATR found some simple but effective steps detailed in a short piece called "Four Tips to Avoid Phishers" posted Friday on TheStreet.com:

1. Your eBay and PayPal passwords should be different. Each should have eight characters, varying four letters and four numbers (e.g., 4j2o1m9s).

2. Never open any email from eBay or PayPal from your regular email account. Always go to "My eBay," scroll down the left side and click "My Messages." If the email really is from eBay, it will be duplicated there. For "real" PayPal messages, log in to your Paypal account. Any important information will be in the top left-hand corner of your main PayPal page.

3. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

4. If you start a transaction on eBay, don't take it outside eBay. Always complete your transactions on eBay so you can take advantage of the protections eBay and PayPal provide, including PayPal's Seller Protection Policy and numerous Buyer Protection options.

Beyond these tips, the entire piece is worth a read. It highlights the ease with which crooks can invade your life, your privacy and your bank accounts. As has been featured here on ATR.com in the past month, when we have brought you news of a fraud scheme in Chicago and also a California professor's online buyer protection tips, some common sense can pay uncommon dividends.