Identity theft is alive and well online. One of the slicker phishing ploys making the rounds comes in the form of official looking emails claiming to be from a bank, credit card company or site such as Best Buy or eBay asking you to verify your account details and password . The email is generally tricked out with authentic looking logos and authoritative text reassuring the recipient that their security is a paramount concern and includes a link for you to use in the verification process. Don’t do it.

There may be subtle clues that the email is not as it seems, such as the return header containing a Hotmail address. The best clue, though, is that legitimate companies never request this kind of information via email. If in doubt, go to the institution’s official web site by typing its URL in the address bar of your browser, not by clicking on any links in the email you received. The scam may be listed on the home page. If in doubt about the authenticity of the email you received, call or email the institution’s customer support department.

7 Online Scams Any Idiot Can Avoid