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From the headlines you might think phishing and Canada are not synonymous, but unfortunately phishing scams are not just an American problem. Phishing and Canada are increasingly going together.
If you’ve been using the internet at all, you have probably seen a phishing email in your inbox. The headlines may make it seem like phishing scams are purely an American problem, but that is not true. Phishing and Canada go together just like phishing and U.S. consumers. It definitely takes some awareness on the part of consumers to not become a victim of phishing. Canada and the United States are both taking steps to stop phishing scams, but consumers can take steps to protect themselves as well.
A good first step to take is to install a good anti-virus program and a good spyware detection program. You can find these programs at your local computer store, or even on the internet. These programs can help protect you from phishing and Canada citizens should definitely not think they are immune from phishing scams.
In the event you receive an email you think might be phishing, Canada citizens should be cautious about opening or responding to the mail. Phishing email scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Where once phishing emails directed would be victims to web sites that were easily recognizable as fakes, the web sites used by today’s phishing scamsters are virtually identical to the real thing.
Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to never click on a link embedded in an email. Instead go directly to the web site via your web browser. If you are suspicious that an email is phishing and Canada internet service providers can help you with this, report it immediately. Phishing and Canada need not go together. It is up to all citizens, whether in Canada, the United States or elsewhere, to help governments and countries fight the scourge of phishing.
Many private companies, as well as governments, are beginning to make strides
against phishing. Canada and the United States have led the charge, and some
individual cases have been prosecuted successfully. Unfortunately, however,
the fraud artists are staying one step ahead of both governments and industry,
so consumers will need to continue to exercise awareness and common sense
when sorting through their email and dealing with their online banking and
auction activities. It is a good idea to be overly cautious when dealing with
banking online. If you are at all unsure of the legitimacy of a communication
from your bank, take a few minutes to call your bank. This not only helps
you, but it gives advance warning to your bank as well. Only by combining
the concerted efforts of many against phishing, Canada and United States citizens
alike, can we finally put an end to this very real danger.
From Phishing and Canada back to Anti-phishing.info