|
|
 |
Sallie Mae considers email and Internet fraud a serious threat to our customers. We are constantly evaluating and improving our systems and processes to protect you. Use this information and our listed resources to help keep your information secure.
As with all types of identity theft, you can take steps to protect yourself from email and Internet fraud by being alert and avoiding unnecessary risks. Just as you would not give your credit card to a person you do not trust, do not give your personal contact or account information to a Web site that looks suspicious.
|
Phishing is an old scam using today's technologies. Criminals try to trick you into divulging sensitive personal information, such as user names, passwords, PINs, or Social Security Numbers.
Phishing attacks will arrive as emails impersonating legitimate companies. The emails will look legitimate and bear a real company’s name and logo. Most often, the emails will use threatening language—such as saying your account will be closed if you do not respond—and "require" that you provide sensitive personal information to avoid penalty.
|
Although email and Internet fraud criminals constantly change their tactics, you can avoid getting scammed by looking out for these warning signs in emails:
- Look for obvious spelling errors.
Fraud criminals are often better at coding computers than they are at spelling. Sallie Mae communications are written by servicing and marketing professionals.
- Make sure the email is addressed to you specifically.
A company with which you do business is going to know your first and last name.
- Be suspicious of any email that contains urgent requests for personal information.
Scammers often rely on threats and a sense of urgency to get the personal information they're looking for.
- Don’t click on links embedded in suspicious emails.
Hackers can make their fraud sites look legitimate—even by using a real company’s name in the Web address. The safest way to ensure your protection is to type the real company’s Web site address in your browser.
- Make sure you’re on a secure server when entering sensitive information.
Secure sites will have "https:" (Note the "s") at the beginning of their Web address instead of just "http." If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer, you will also see a security lock image in the bottom right of the browser window that looks like this:
- Be wary of public "hot spots" for wireless Web access.
Criminals are now setting up wireless networks to gain access to your computer. Since personal firewalls don’t work against these threats, use public hot spots for Web browsing only—save your banking and shopping for home and Web access you completely trust.
|
Evil twins are fake wireless networks set up by criminals to gain access to your computer. They can act and look like legitimate wireless access points. They are also called honey pots.
Evil twins looking like legitimate wireless networks will collect your personal information as you log in. Or, they will steal your banking and credit card information by intercepting your emails and transmissions.
|
It is also important to protect your computer by using anti-virus, anti-spyware, and spam-blocking software. Be sure to regularly download updates to these programs. And avoid conducting personal financial business on shared or public computers.
|
|
|
