Phishing
What is Phishing?
Phishing is a method used to get you to expose personal information to fraudulent sources. Phishing is usually accomplished by sending email to you and getting you to login to a supposed reputable site to verify account information. Phishing schemes are getting more complex and harder to spot, many now will come and be very personalized. The personalization comes from data that was gleaned from other sources that fraudsters will use to gain more valuable information.
What can you do to protect yourself?
Do not respond to an email requesting you to verify your account information. Financial institutions generally will not send emails requesting that type of information. If you suspect that the email is legitimate call the institution. Suspected phishing can be reported to abuse@jhu.edu or you can simply delete the message from your mailbox.
Companies like eBay and PayPal always address you by your username in e-mails. If you receive and e-mail addressed to you in some generic fashion such as "Dear valued eBay member", it is likely to be a phishing attempt.
More Info:
Anti-Phishing Working Group: www.antiphishing.org/
Federal Trade Commision: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/phishingalrt.htm
