Email users are being bombarded with authentic-looking messages that instruct them to provide sensitive personal information. It's called "phishing." Individuals who "bite" are exposed to identity theft.

Phishing occurs when a consumer receives a deceptively-legitimate looking email from what appears to be a reputable company. The email asks recipients to update their credit card information or their account will be promptly terminated. Or the message offers a service to protect their credit cards from possible fraud.

Contact:
Beth Givens, PRC Director
619-298-3396
bethg(at)privacyrights.org

 

Beginning on July 1, state government agencies as well as companies and nonprofit organizations regardless of geographic location must notify California customers if personal information maintained in computerized data files have been compromised by unauthorized access.