I recently got a spam email of the most egregious nature. This is an email from a bogus Bank of America security department wanting me to update information. I am sharing the actual email below to point out what to look for in such emails.
Here it is:
Subject: Security Update Checkup
Dear Customer,
We need to confirm your identity. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we do not recognize the computer you are using. In order to help prevent an unauthorized person from accessing your accounts, we need to verify your
identity before you log on.
Confirm Your Identity
Why do we not recognize your computer?
* You may have bought a new computer or are using one you have not previously used.
* You may have changed the settings on your browser or switched to a new browser.
* You may have deleted your cookies.
* You may have reconfigured your computer, operating system or other software settings.
* Your Internet Service Provider may have changed settings on their system.
What do you need to do?
All you need to do:
1. Download the security lo-gin file attached to this email.
2.Fill the form on the security page you will be directed to and submit it.
This will verify your computer as an authorized user and grant you access to your lo-gin page.
Once again, We apologize for the inconvenience. Your security is our job.
SECURITY SERVICES
BANK OF AMERICA
End of email.
Looks official doesn't it? But Bank of America and every other banking or financial institution will never ever ever ask you to verify this information either through email or by phone. If there is a problem they will send you a letter and will ask you to go into the bank or to go to the official website. If they send you an email it will usually be about a product or service and they will use your name not "Dear Customer."
They seem to give a lot of good information as to why they want you to verify your identity. You will know this is bogus when you go to the website of your financial institution and log in as you normally do with no problem at all. Your bank doesn't care what computer you are using. They do care that you know your user ID, the correct answers to your security questions, and your password. What computer you use or what browser setting you have or what cookies you may have deleted are all immaterial.
Don't be fooled and never, never, never follow a link given in the text of the email or as an attachment. Go directly to the webpage you have always used to log on. If there is a problem, you will handle it there.