What is Phishing?

Want to know now what is phishing? Maybe you read some examples of email phishing related to Toyota and how Microsoft used in email phishing when someone talks about Microsoft Sweepstakes. Awhile ago, I receive an email message from reader asking me what is phishing all about. After I read the email message, I logged out and open another email address and search my inbox. I searched my inbox because few months ago I received phishing emails so that I can give my reader an example. Sad to say, I deleted my emails. But I can give you an example of phishing today in this article.

What is Phishing?

In my own idea, the word “phishing” means when someone pretends or disguise to be another person. A person who sent phishing emails are not really connected to any of the institutions (banks issuing credit cards, social media accounts, webhosting account, etc) and the intention is just to get your personal information.

This simply means, a “fake” message in your email. It is only a trick to get your personal information. Do not visit any link in the email message if you are not sure. Even though the links look like the real website of an institution. The purpose of phishing is to get your identity and use it online. That’s why “scammers” are doing this trick.

Update: Here’s an Example:

Take note, I didn’t sent any message about “Payment Slip”, why did I received an email message with a subject “Re: Payment Slip”? The above example wants me to download the attachment, what if the attachment is only a “virus”. And the another crime here is, the sender used business trademark “Kaiser”. Here’s the details;

“Good Day,

Sorry for my dilatory reply, it was due to ongoing maintainance in our company and my
email has been changed, as discussed on previous mail, Kindly find attached swift copy
for Thirty-One Thousand Dollars. ($31,000.00 USD) paid into your account today, Balance
will be remitted in coming week, Advice when money has been received.

Accounts Department
Chung Lin,
Country Manager
Kaiser Business Consulting
27th Floor, Quill 7 KL Sentral
Jalan Stesen Sentral 5
Kuala Lumpur 50470 Malaysia
Tel: + 60 3 2776 6834
Fax: + 60 3 2776 6999
Website www.kaiserassociates.com”

Disclaimer: This is the real email message I’ve got. I have no bad intention to use other people’s name, addresses, phone number and website.

While I visited the website www.kaiserassociates.com, I search their email and I found this (kaiserasia@kaiserassociates.com) not hotdeals1@creativeholidaysindia.in

You can easily know that an email is only a “phishing email” if the grammar and spelling in the email messages are not correct. A message asking you to update your credit card information (which is not true), because, most of the banks will call you via phone to update your credit card and asking you to do it in the bank premises.

Example of Phishing Email:

Dear John Doe, thank you for using our services. We have a credit card raffle promo this coming Valentine’s Day. The grand price is “trip to Paris”. To participate, kindly update your credit card detail together with your online banking password using the link for confirmation.

Regards,
Bank Manager

What can you notice in the email message, the sender is asking you to update your credit card details. Another thing, he wants you to update your online banking password.

Other examples of email phishing can be read in this Western Union Scam.

How to Not Receive Email Phishing?

To avoid this type of emails, just blocked the email address, here’s how you doit. (In this guide, we’ll use Yahoo email)

1. Log in to you yahoo mail. Read the phishing emails.
2. Get the  email addresses
3. Block the email address
4. Enter Email and Press Block

I hope you guys learn so much from this thing. Never disclose your personal information to anyone online. Do not visit the bogus website, make sure (especially when doing an internet banking) double check the official website of the bank. Beware, phishing not only done in email messages but also on telephone calls.

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