Phishing
Phishing, just to be clear, is not a style of dance favored by fans of the band Phish. It is the act of sending email that falsely claims to be from a legitimate organization. This is usually combined with a threat or request for information, such as a threat or notice that an account will close, a balance is due, or information is missing from an account. The email will ask the recipient to supply confidential information, such as bank account details, personal identification numbers (PINs), or passwords; these details are then used by the owners of the Web site to conduct fraud.
Remember, banks and other respected institutions will never send you an email asking you to provide unprotected personal information.
The best way to avoid becoming a victim of phishing is to never respond to unsolicited emails asking for personal information or directing you to a Web site where you are asked to enter personal information—even if it looks totally official. If you want to make sure, log into the Web site or call the bank or organization directly. If they have something important to tell you, they will.