How Not To Get Hooked By A "Phishing" Scam

A typical e-mail scam works like this: you receive an e-mail from a business claiming to be someone you usually deal with. In this e-mail, you are asked to "update" or "validate" personal information, such as Social Security numbers, credit card number, dates of birth, or other sensitive information to keep your account "active". This is called "phishing" - and it involves internet crooks who send messages to lure personal information from unsuspecting victims. Never disclose private information requested from an unsolicited e-mail or phone call.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)