“Phishing” is the fraudulent practice of sending emails or other messages purporting to be from reputable companies to convince the recipients to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. Phishing emails often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company.
Fraudulent emails or SMS text messages branded as AAA are being sent to recipients congratulating them on “winning” or having an “expiring offer” for a car emergency kit, “reward” or other “special benefit.” AAA did not send these emails or texts.
Things to look out for in phishing emails:
- Unfamiliar greeting or tone
- Grammar and spelling errors
- A sense of urgency
- Request to confirm personal or financial information
- Inconsistencies in the email address of the sender
- Alert that you have won something, been offered a coupon or a gift
How to protect yourself from phishing scams:
- Never provide your personal information in response to an unsolicited request.
- If you believe the email may be legitimate, contact the company or institution yourself to verify.
- Never click on unknown links or attachments
- Never provide your password over the phone or in response to an unsolicited request.
- Review account statements regularly to ensure all charges are correct.
ProtectMyID®
All AAA members receive complimentary ID Theft protection through ProtectMyID®. This is a tool to monitor any activity that may result from ID theft.
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