There are a number of unscrupulous types out there, waiting to take your hard earned money. One of the most common ways criminals try and scam you is to “phish” for your information. In these types of scams, you are asked to reveal personal financial information. This information can then be used to commit identity fraud — and can cost you in time and money.

Here are some phishing scams to be aware of:

You made a purchase. It usually involves an email message that claims to be sending you a receipt for a purchase at a major retailer. If you didn’t make that purchase, don’t open the PDF attachment! Even if you did, do not call the number in the document to make a dispute. Instead, look at your card statement independently to verify whether there was a purchase or not. For example, Apple is a common retailer used in this type of scam and if you look closely, the email message doesn’t come from Apple.com.

Lower your credit card interest rate. Who doesn’t want a lower interest rate on their credit cards? This phishing scam involves a phone call, and a recorded message telling you that you qualify for a lower rate. You then press a number, and you are prompted to enter your credit card number.  Hopefully you can see where this is going in terms of identity fraud …

Unlock your bank account. Some people have received phone calls claiming that their bank accounts are locked. If you receive a call like this, you might even be told that there has been some “suspicious activity on your account.” It sounds like your bank has locked down your account on your behalf. All you need to do to unlock your account is give them your account number.  And, unlike a credit card with its fraud protections, there isn’t much you can do if someone decides to drain your bank account. The moral of this story: your actual bank already knows your account number, you will never need to give it to them.

Hotel computer crash. According to Consumer Reports, the Better Business Bureau is reporting on an interesting scam that has cropped up. You receive a call on your hotel phone. The person on the other end claims to be from the front desk. The computer system has crashed, and all the data is gone — including your credit card data. All you have to do is give the information over the phone, and everything will be straightened out. This is a complete scam, and now the scammer has your credit card information to start using.

It is important not to give out personal financial information out unless you can verify the source. Additionally, don’t give out information over the phone when some calls asking for it. Always realize that your bank and credit card issuers won’t ask for your full account number; they already have it! Anyone who asks for your full account number for “security” or “verification” is probably almost always a scammer.

Bottom Line: Be on guard for phishing scams, whether they are perpetrated via email or over the phone. Keep your personal financial information private, and remember to verify information coming from others independently.

Article Source: Miranda Marquit for Moneyning.com