(fish´ing) (n.) The act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. The e-mail directs the user to visit a Web site where they are asked to update personal information, such as passwords and credit card, social security, and bank account numbers, that the legitimate organization already has. The Web site, however, is bogus and set up only to steal the user’s information. For example, 2003 saw the proliferation of a phishing scam in which users received e-mails supposedly from eBay claiming that the user’s account was about to be suspended unless he clicked on the provided link and updated the credit card information that the genuine eBay already had. Because it is relatively simple to make a Web site look like a legitimate organizations site by mimicking the HTML code, the scam counted on people being tricked into thinking they were actually being contacted by eBay and were subsequently going to eBay’s site to update their account information. By spamming large groups of people, the “phisher” counted on the e-mail being read by a percentage of people who actually had listed credit card numbers with eBay legitimately.

Phishing, also referred to as brand spoofing or carding, is a variation on “fishing,” the idea being that bait is thrown out with the hopes that while most will ignore the bait, some will be tempted into biting.

EXAMPLE:

Subject: NCUA Verification Process

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Important security renewal

Dear CU holder account,

This notice informs you that your Credit Union bank has joined our Federal
Credit Union(FCU) network. For both, our and your security, we are asking you
to activate an online account on our database. After activation you can login
on our system with your Card Number and your Credit/Debit PIN number.

You must visit the FCU activation page and fill in the form to activate your
online account:

http://www.ncua.gov/activate_account.html

In accordance with NCUA User Agreement, you can use your online account in 24
hours after activation. We thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Please understand that this is a security measure intended to help protect you
and your account.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Sincerely, NCUA Account Review Department

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