Spelled phishing, the approach usually tries to scare you into complying with the request in the
e-mail. You are told that there is some problem with your credit card or bank account and if you don’t respond your access will be terminated. Well, we have been telling you about this type of phishing for some time. Most of the companies that have found their good names being used in phishing attacks have been national companies.

Well, now phishing is taking on a local aspect with a recent e-mail claiming to be from a local home loan company. It stated the consumer’s account may have been accessed by an unauthorized third party – of course, it wanted the consumer’s social security number and account number. How did she know it was a fraud? She does not have an account with the loan company.

Most reputable companies will not ask you to provide sensitive information through a link in the e-mail.