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The Canadien Champion, Friday, Augusi 4, 2006 - A3 Watch out for'phishing' on your e-mail, warn police SPECIAL TO THE CHAMPION Another 'phishing' season is underway and e-mail users arc warned not to get hooked. The Fînancial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) says phîshîng involves e-mails where fraud artists pretend to rep- resent banks and requesi private information, which thieves ihen use to access accounts. Ant e-mail received recentîs' by The Champion informed the recipient iheir Royal Bank account had a problem and requested thai anv password changes bc reporîed. The e-mail included tise bank's logo. RBC Royal Bank's direcior of media and public relations advises cusiomers never to share their on-fine banking pass- svord or aisv personasl identification. RCemplovees are neyer authonized to ask ihose ques- tions,- said .eja Rodeck. ln the e-mail cîîed aibove, the' lînk for verifwing account activity has sînce beeni closed. Rodeck saîd the bank wsorks with enlorcemeni agencies to shut dlown phîshîng links once ihey are deîecîed. But phîshing expeditions arc unpredîctable and can't be prevented. she said. "AIl banks get these e-mails and many organizations face this IN-p of problemn Basically. ihese thîngs hav~e been around for a couple of vears." said Rodeck. 'W'edoing a lot of work to educate cusiomers about fraudulent e-mails. We have information iii our branches.' She said if a client's information is compromnisedi ihrough no lault of their own, thev- %ill be reimibursed for any losses. Rodeck agreed customers can go dîrectly to their bank branches if they're notified of pro.blem-s or asked îo provide information. RBC Royal Bank bas a fraud fine for customer inquinies ai l-800-7t)-2555. A Halton Regional Police officiaI said those sendîng phony e-matis are s'ery good ai copyîng company logos and making their requesis seem legîtîmate. "W',e'v-e seen this before and then an aleri îo the' publie goes oui, said Deti Sgt. Jot Barker. -Afterwards swhen the Red Cross desperately needs volunteers to work in office The north Halton branch of the Red Cross is in desperaît' need of office ,-olunteers. The Milton location is lookîng for indivîiduals who can spart' some lie to ansver phones. meet and greet the' pub- lic. ht'lp wsith enqlumnes and book transportation to medîcal appoînîments for clients Those interesied should caîl Judith Dobbs ai (905) 8 75- 1459. AUTO BODY i Ràji AiTLAI)INC. b)ack. He recalled previous phisbing attempis aimed at bank accounts of RBC Royal Bank and CIBC cusiomers. "Tht' Internet bas opencd up a world of fraud," said Barker. "People need to act exîremely cautiously when deal- ing with anything over the Internet." Barker advîses againsi doîng business over tht' Intt'mnet or tht' phone when it involves personal accounis. Requesis by mail should also be double-checked, said the sergeant. "Before you give information to anyone, confirm tht'y are legitimat'" he saîd. "Fim consîantly amazed ai people who torts over information without second guessing t." Barker said when informed of a problem Aith their account. customers should bandit' o in person. "Go itt tht' branch and speak to tht' manager in tht' bank"- saîd Barker. "Don't meet anyone in parking lots or I-le added custoîners should caîl or vîsil their local bank branch instt'ad of phoning tht' number on the letterbead of correspondt'nce sent to themn. Barker said mass e-mails ean Ht' sent, even to non-eus- itomers of tht' banks, in tht' hopt's that a few consumers will be tricked. He saîd be's not sure wbere the laîest phishîng scam originatt'd because they're usually bounct'd through thrt't or four locations. Barker saîd phishîng scams are invesîigated by tht' OPP and RCMP because tht'y have tht' international resourees îhey can use. Tht' FCAC îs aiso warnîng of a sîmîlar scam called vish- îng (short for voîce phîshing) that mîmie eBay or PayPal and diret'c targets lu a lalse customer support phone number or they cali consumers direetly and inform them of accounit Iproblems' LM 1 LTO N TOYOT NI 1 L T 0 N )Toy