Avoid getting hooked by 'phishing' scam

Every year, an estimated 700,000 people become victims of various types of identity theft. Every day, new scams make their way to consumers. The account verification scam, also known as "phishing," is a relatively new identity theft scam. Their goal is to steal your personal data, such as credit card information, financial account information, passwords or a social security number.

This particular email scam sounds very realistic. You’ll receive an email requesting you to update or validate your account information. The email will seem like it’s from an online shopping site you use or a company you’re familiar with and may look legitimate. To avoid being a victim of this scam, here are a few ways to protect yourself:

If you do receive an email like this, don’t reply or click on a link. Instead, contact the company mentioned with a number you know to be genuine.

• Never give out personal or financial information via email to anyone
• Review your credit card and financial account statements to make sure there aren’t any unauthorized charges.

If you feel you have been a victim of Internet fraud, visit www.ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.