protect your identity (primavera 2004) putting pressure on identity thieves (otoño 2002)

Is your e-mail box full of messages purporting to be from banks, other financial institutions, or telephone service providers? Are they soliciting credit card and Social Security numbers, account user names, or passwords? Hit the “delete” key. Fast! This new Internet scam, called phishing, is a form of identity theft and credit card fraud.

Here's how it works: The e-mails commonly threaten to close your account or charge a penalty fee if you don't “update” the information sought. Links within the e-mail direct you to an authentic-looking–but bogus–website to enter the data. Don't. Generally, legitimate businesses don’t operate in this manner.

The next time someone goes phishing for you, don't take the bait.