SPOOFING & PHISHING

DEFINTION: Spoofing and Phishing is a term that is most commonly used to describe the act of impersonating or masquerading as a person or organization by the use of email or telephone calls.

Perry Township Police Department wants to alert you about spoofing and phishing, a tool scam artists use to steal personal information. Spoofing and Phishing scams can occur when scam artists call or email consumers posing as legitimate businesses and masking their email address or phone number. An email address or phone’s Caller ID will actually come up as that of the real business in hopes the consumer will reveal financial information to the scammer.

"As technology advances, scam artists continue to find increasingly new and devious ways to try to steal consumers' identities. The latest trend with spoofing & phishing serves as a reminder that no consumer should ever reveal sensitive information to any unsolicited caller or in an e-mail message."

These con artists can fool the best of us! Just remember if it is too good to be true... then there is a good chance it is not!!

The most frequently reported scams in 2010 fell in these categories:
1. Motorized vehicles

2. Collections, credit reporting or financial services
3. Internet or phone
4. Household goods or property improvement
5. Mortgage
6. Shopping, food or beverages
7. Professional services
8. Sweepstakes or prizes
9. Computers or electronics
10. Utilities
11. Craig’s List

If you think you are being scammed call the police!