I just received an important article from my colleague, Chad Barr of CB Software Systems Inc., discussing a common form of identity theft called “phishing.”  Chad provides a number of common sense tips for protecting ourselves, our companies, and our loved ones from this insidious crime.

While phishing is strictly an Internet issue, one of the things I’ve noticed is how people who normally are very protective of their confidential information will easily release it in response to a request over email or phone that seems “official.”  Maybe your college alumni association needs to update their records, or perhaps the phone company or a magazine has a great deal. It’s easy to get lulled into a false sense of security - especially if the email or call comes at an inconvenient time.

Sadly, no matter how credible such a request seems to be, I check its validity by using my own  sources to contact the company or association before releasing any information.  Am I being super cautious?  Yes.  Am I being paranoid?  Unfortunately, no.  Over the years I’ve personally identified at least three attempts at phishing that came my way, along with several suspicious phone calls from “phone companies” wanting to offer me a better deal on my service.

We can’t control whether phishing and other forms of identity theft will continue to occur, but we all have accountability for doing what we can to avoid becoming the latest victims.  Please forward this posting to those you care about.