Phishing is when a crook tries to obtain information about you such as your social security number and bank account. Of course, that info will be used to steal your identity and/or empty your bank account.

Most of the reports we have had about phishing involve e-mails. Well, the phone is now a player. Our caller told me she had arrived home and found a message on her voice mail to call an 800 number about her bank account.

She placed the call but the person who answered the phone indicated she had reached a mortgage company. Being a curious consumer she decided to play along. The first thing the person wanted was our caller’s social security number. Red flags started going off in her head. When she asked why, the reply was that the company needed the information so they could check out her mortgage. She knew something was seriously wrong and told the company rep that she did not have a mortgage, hung up and reported the incident to Call For Action. And we are telling you!