Phishing: Threat or Menace?
The Insurance Information Institute (III) reports that a total of $3.2 billion was lost to phishing attacks in 2007. Victims lost $886 on average.
[Jargon decoder: Phishing is a practice wherein fraudsters acquire personal information, usually through e-mail, by masking as legitimate businesses or organizations.]
Judging by my own inbox, it seems that phishermen are getting savvier—or at least more aggressive. The number of e-mails I get that are purportedly from eBay has climbed 68 percent (by my own unofficial guesstimate). The III marshals some evidence to support my estimate: 3.6 million people were duped in 2007, up from 2.3 million in the previous year.
So, agents, if anyone asks for sensitive information over e-mail, don’t give it up, no matter how legit things look. E-mail doesn’t offer the same kind of encryption strength that a secure web site does.
Most, if not all, legitimate online entities know this and will not ask for personal information over e-mail. Pass the word to your friends, family members and clients.
Comments
That's quite the fish. Reminds me of one of my favorite jokes, (though it's better told than written):
I know. I set the bar pretty low as far ask jokes go.
But I agree, phishers are getting savvier. I just deleted a professional-looking email, asking if I'd like to get my web site to the top of natural search engine listings. All I had to do was email him back with the URLs I'd like to send to the top. I could see unsuspecting agents who are looking for a larger web presence replying to an email like that.
Good tips, Jeb.
Posted by: Megan | December 18, 2007 03:08 PM
That's my kind of humor, Megan. That joke reminds me of a personal favorite:
Q. What do generals do with their armies?
A. They put them in their sleevies.
Posted by: Jeb | December 21, 2007 07:37 AM