Phishing

As access to technology has increased, more of our daily business is being conducted online. Unfortunately, scammers have discovered this fact as well. There are many possible dangers one must be aware of when using the Internet, but one in particular has drawn much attention – and with good reason. Phishing is the act of being tricked into divulging sensitive information online. How does phishing work?

A phishing attack generally starts via email. In the most common cases, an individual receives a message that appears to be from their bank or other financial institution. The official-sounding email informs the recipient that they need to take some particular action, such as verifying account information. In order to do so, they are directed to a link within the email that appears to go to the web site of the institution.

However, both the email and the link are, in fact, part of a clever scam hatched by a thief attempting to steal the recipient’s financial information. Once the recipient clicks on the link, they are directed to a site that closely resembles that of the financial institution, but is actually operated by the thieves. Any information entered by the user, such as account numbers, passwords, or social security numbers, is then available to the thief.

Although consumers are becoming more educated about the dangers of phishing and precautions they can take to avoid getting attacked, it is still a serious problem. Governments and companies around the world are working to fight against it.

Contact us

If you have been charged with phishing or other online crimes, you will need a qualified legal expert on your side. Call 408-296-4100 to contact the San Jose criminal lawyers led by Daniel Jensen.