The VCC Security Center - Visit Cambria California

"Phishing" can be a potentially fraudulent email, commonly referred to as a "phishing" email. Always take your security very seriously and investigate matters immediately. If your investigation determines that an email is fraudulent, take steps to protect yourself and others. See if you can have the website shut down if it is fraud. Email The VCC Security Center and we'll do our best to do the same for all our members.

Stay safe from Phishing: Easy clues to help you keep your personal information secure.

The main goal of a phishing email is to get you to a site where you will provide your personal information. With these basic, but powerful, clues, you can easily recognize the threat and ensure the safety of your identity and personal information, especially financial information.

Does the email ask you to go to a website and verify personal information? REAL companies won't ask you to verify your personal information in response to an email.
What is the tone of the mail? Most phish emails convey a sense of urgency by threatening discontinued service or information loss if you don't take immediate action.
What is the quality of the email? Many phish emails have misspellings, bad grammar, or poor punctuation.
Are the links in the email valid? Deceptive links in phishing emails look like they are to a valid site, but deliver you to a fraudulent one. Many times you can see if the link is legitimate by just moving your mouse over the link and looking at your "status bar."
Is the email personalized with your name and applicable account information? Many phish emails use generic salutations and generic information (e.g. "Dear Customer" or "Dear Account Holder") instead of your name.
What is the sender's email address? Many phish emails come from an email address not from the company represented in the email.
When in doubt, type it out. If you suspect an email to be phishing, don't click on any links in the email. Type the valid address directly into your web browser.

A REAL company will usually have additional privacy policies, security information and prevention tips at their own websites that pertain to that service, such as banking, brokerage firms, etc. Take some time to help yourself and pass the word along to your friends and neighbors.