Beware email phishers

Email phishers are criminals trying to steal your personal and bank details. They have now turned their attention to iTunes and are sending out emails purportedly from Apple asking you to correct a problem with their iTunes Store account.

Remember, NEVER, EVER, EVER complete any details in response to an email. Invariably what looks like a legitimate email from your bank or other service provider, iTunes for example, will direct you to a spoof web site that looks like the real one.

If in doubt, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS go to the website referred to using the usual URL in the browser and log in that way. DO NOT reply to any suspect emails and NEVER click any links in suspect emails.

Back to iTunes phishing: the spam email has a link to a website pretending to be an iTunes billing page. They will then ask you for confidential information like your bank account, credit cards, passwords etc . DON”T DO IT.

This example is not that well done and most of you will spot that its not legitimate BUT some others you may receive are very professionally done and do look legitimate. Also remember that if you divulge any information like this and are subjected to fraud – your bank will NOT re-imburse you.

The other thing to remember with any phishing emails is that many of them are set to record responses and clicks on embedded web addresses and note them as live. This means they will share your email address with other criminals and you’ll soon be inundated with phishing spam.

Finally, no bank or building society or credit card company will ever try to elicit your user name, password or pin via a telephone call or an email that they initiate. So, if in doubt, delete the message immediately.