Beware of 'phishing'! The main goal of a phishing email is to get you to a site where you will provide your personal information to thieves who can use it to steal your identity - and your money! Here are some basic but powerful clues to help you recognize the threat and ensure the safety of your identity and finances.

Easy clues to help you keep your personal information secure:

1. Does the email ask you to go to a website and verify personal information? Legitimate businesses like banks, paypal.com, amazon.com, and ebay.com won't ask you to verify your personal information in response to an email.
2. What is the tone of the mail? Most phish emails convey a sense of urgency by threatening discontinued service or information loss if you don't take immediate action.
3. What is the quality of the email? Many phish emails have misspellings, bad grammar, or poor punctuation.
4. Are the links in the email valid? Deceptive links in phishing emails look like they are to a valid site, but deliver you to a fraudulent one. Many times you can see if the link is legitimate by just moving your mouse over the link.
5. Is the email personalized with your name and applicable account information? Many phish emails use generic salutations and generic information (e.g. "Dear Customer" or "Dear Account Holder") instead of your name.
6. What is the sender's email address? Many phish emails come from an email address not from the company represented in the email.
7. When in doubt, call the business in question - but DON'T click on any links in the email, or you may end up with viruses, keystroke loggers, and/or other malware. To reach the business (for example, US Bank, PayPal, Amazon, or Ebay), look it up in the phone book or visit the business's website by typing it into your browser. Their customer service representatives will be happy to help you over the phone.

For more information about phishing and other internet scams, visit anti-phishing phil at Anti-Phishing Phil.