What is a "Phishing" Scam?

"Phishing" is an e-mail scam that attempts to trick consumers into revealing personal information—such as their credit or debit account numbers, checking account information, Social Security numbers, or banking account passwords—through fake Web sites or in a reply e-mail. Typically the e-mails and Web sites use familiar logos and slick graphics to deceive consumers into thinking the sender or Web site owner is a government agency or a company they know. Sometimes the phisher urges intended victims to "confirm" account information that has been "stolen" or "lost." Other times the phisher entices victims to reveal personal information by telling them they have won a special prize or earned an exciting reward.

Phishing scams are among the fastest growing forms of fraud on the Internet. According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, phishing scams grew 52 percent from December of 2003 to January of 2004.

Visa USA/Better Business Bureau/Call For Action 'Cut the Line on Phishing' campaign

Visa and the Better Business Bureau are launching a campaign to educate consumers on: how to identify phishing scams; how to avoid becoming a victim; and how to report a suspicious e-mail. Comprehensive phishing resources will be available on the Internet for consumers at www.visa.com/phishing, www.bbbonline.org/idtheft/index.asp  and www.callforaction.org/publications/phishing/

In addition to Web content on phishing, Visa USA and the Better Business Bureau will reach consumers by:

• Working with Visa card-issuing banks to provide cardholder statement inserts
• Issuing consumer and business alerts through local Better Business Bureaus
• Encouraging BBBOnLine participating merchants and other BBB members to link from their Web sites to anti-phishing resources on the bbb.org site.

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