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Online Safety

Use Microsoft products to help avoid phishing

Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8 help block links to fraudulent "phishing" Web sites.

What is phishing?

What is phishing?

Phishing scams are online scams that criminals use to commit fraud.
Criminals use fake Web sites, Instant Messages (IMs), or deceptive e-mail messages that mimic trusted businesses and brands in order to steal personally identifiable information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card numbers.
A phishing link might appear authentic, but direct you to a fake Web site.

What should I do if I think I've entered my personal or financial information into a phishing Web site?

Immediately do the following:

  • Report the incident to your credit card company and the company that you think was deceptively imitated. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports. Check with your bank or financial advisor if you're not sure how to place a fraud alert.
  • Contact your banks and online merchants directly. Change the password or personal identification number (PIN) on all your online accounts. Do not follow links in a fraudulent e-mail message to get to those sites. Type the address directly into your browser or use your personal bookmarks.
  • Close any accounts that have been fraudulently accessed or opened.
  • Change the password on all of your accounts.
  • Review your bank and credit card statements monthly for unexplained charges or inquiries that you didn't initiate.
  • For more information, see What to do if you've responded to a phishing scam.


What should I do if I discover that I've been a victim of fraud?

Immediately do the following:

  • Close any accounts that have been fraudulently accessed or opened.
  • Change the password on all of your accounts.
  • Place a fraud alert on your credit reports. Check with your bank or financial advisor if you're not sure how to place a fraud alert.
  • File a report with the local police.
  • Contact your banks and online merchants directly. Change the passwords or PINs on all your online accounts. Do not follow links from e-mail messages.
  • For more information, see What to do if you're a victim of fraud.
To help avoid phishing scams:

To help avoid phishing scams:

  • Be protective of your personal information. Your personal information is valuable to criminals, so be careful when you enter personal information into a pop-up window or a Web site. Never share personal information in an e-mail message or IM that you think might be fraudulent.
  • Don't click links in suspicious e-mail messages. Type addresses directly into your browser or use links in your Favorites menu.
  • Don't trust sender information in IMs, e-mail messages, or messages on social networking Web sites.
  • Use Web sites that provide privacy statements or information about how they help protect your personal information.
  • Turn on the automatic Web site checking option for the Internet Explorer 8 SmartScreen filter or the Internet Explorer 7 Phishing Filter.

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