Fraudulent e-mails increase risk of identity theft
By Kim Dishler
Rocket Editor-in-Chief
Issue date: 4/22/05 Section: News
Anybody with an e-mail account has probably had a problem with spam or unsolicited mail filling up his or her inbox. Usually, these e-mails are easy to spot and delete, but occasionally, they look so authentic people are tricked into giving out personal information in an increasingly common scam known as "phishing."
This is exactly what happened to one Slippery Rock University student, who had her bank account drained as a result. Senior Jennifer Howser, an elementary/special education major, received an e-mail from what appeared to be Ebay last June.
"Everything looked authentic, and it said unusual activity had occurred," she said. "The e-mail said I needed to verify my account information."
Howser clicked on the corresponding link and gave out personal information, including her account number, credit card number, PIN number and Social Security number. The next thing she knew, the $400 in her checking account was wiped out.
Howser, who lives in Elyria, Ohio, had to come to Slippery Rock to file a police report and close her account at Citizens National Bank. She had to wait the next several months before she knew whether she would get her money back, pending a police investigation.
Howser said her account was in the negative by $300 from bounced checks and overdraw fees, which Citizens National Bank did not make her pay as a courtesy.
"I got a letter that said some of my checks bounced," she said. "Plus, even after my money was gone, my ATM card kept letting me make withdrawals. Since I didn't know, every time I overdrew my account I was charged $29."
Howser spent the whole summer trying to correct the problem, but she didn't hear a decision until October. She was told whoever took her money made a withdrawal from a bank in the Bronx, and was probably part of a scam running from overseas.
"I never got my money back," Howser said. "I was broke for weeks."
Slippery Rock Borough chief of police Fred Emigh said identity theft investigations vary case by case. Emigh also said similar investigations are not frequent.
This is exactly what happened to one Slippery Rock University student, who had her bank account drained as a result. Senior Jennifer Howser, an elementary/special education major, received an e-mail from what appeared to be Ebay last June.
"Everything looked authentic, and it said unusual activity had occurred," she said. "The e-mail said I needed to verify my account information."
Howser clicked on the corresponding link and gave out personal information, including her account number, credit card number, PIN number and Social Security number. The next thing she knew, the $400 in her checking account was wiped out.
Howser, who lives in Elyria, Ohio, had to come to Slippery Rock to file a police report and close her account at Citizens National Bank. She had to wait the next several months before she knew whether she would get her money back, pending a police investigation.
Howser said her account was in the negative by $300 from bounced checks and overdraw fees, which Citizens National Bank did not make her pay as a courtesy.
"I got a letter that said some of my checks bounced," she said. "Plus, even after my money was gone, my ATM card kept letting me make withdrawals. Since I didn't know, every time I overdrew my account I was charged $29."
Howser spent the whole summer trying to correct the problem, but she didn't hear a decision until October. She was told whoever took her money made a withdrawal from a bank in the Bronx, and was probably part of a scam running from overseas.
"I never got my money back," Howser said. "I was broke for weeks."
Slippery Rock Borough chief of police Fred Emigh said identity theft investigations vary case by case. Emigh also said similar investigations are not frequent.
