Email Security
Recognize Email Fraud
Identity thieves are bold and their efforts can be very sophisticated. People are fooled every day, so it’s important for you to be alert to the ways thieves will try to get your personal information, and knowledgeable about what to do when that happens.
In what’s known as “phishing,” large numbers of recipients are sent email messages referencing a well-known bank or retailer. In these cases, the thieves don’t expect all the recipients to have a relationship with the company, but they are targeting the smaller percentage of people who do, and who in their concern about the message, will “click through” the links on the email to verify their personal information.
In order for this to work – and it does – the emails must be convincing. To help you recognize phishing, remember that fake emails will:
- appear to be from legitimate banks, financial institutions or retailers using copied logos and content style.
- use fake websites or pop-up windows to collect your personal information.
- may incorporate links to real websites to help convince you the email is legitimate.
- request confidential information like account numbers, personal IDs, passwords, card numbers and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs).
- use upsetting or alarming statements to elicit an immediate response from the recipient.
Recent scam attempts are increasing, whereby they are including telephone numbers to call. Called “vishing,” these calls are answered by official-sounding representatives or automated response systems that collect your personal information over the phone.
No matter how they get your personal information, thieves act very quickly to transfer money, charge goods and services to credit cards and/or use social security information to set up new accounts. A great deal of damage can be done in a very short time.
Protect yourself by:
- taking the time to calmly examine the claims in the email.
- checking the authenticity of the email by contacting the company appearing to be the originator – but don’t use contact information provided in the email.
- never sharing any personal information, especially your Social Security Number, account numbers, login or password information through email. We will never ask for personal information in an email.
Remember: We will never send you an email requesting sensitive personal information. View additional tips on how to protect your personal information.
Report Email Fraud
If you’re an Elan customer and receive a suspicious email that references Elan or your credit card, please forward the email immediately to elanfraud@elanfs.com.
