Warning about Internet fraudNEW YORK, 11 July 2007 - UNICEF is deeply concerned about fraudulent emails using our trusted name and logo. Websites or emails offering jobs on behalf of UNICEF are fraudulent. The alleged offers are fabricated and engineered by individuals who are unethically using our brand and deliberately abusing the trust we have with our millions of supporters world-wide. Beware of ‘phishing’ With heightened media attention regarding the theft of personal data, many consumers – as well as supporters of humanitarian organizations like UNICEF – are concerned about the privacy and integrity of their personal data. That’s why it is important to be aware of fraudulent Internet correspondence, also known as ‘phishing’. Phishing is a type of fraud in which e-mail messages, instant messages and websites are used to deceive individuals into providing confidential, personal information. The term relates to the idea that people will ‘take the bait’ and disclose personal information, which can be used for credit card fraud and other serious violations of privacy. Phishing e-mails generally appear to be sent from legitimate organisations, asking users to either reply or link to a web page to update their personal information. They sometimes contain an organisational logo and even a physical address, but the web address, or URL, does not match that of the legitimate organisation. Don’t get ‘hooked’ Among the data typically requested by phishers are the user’s name and address; Social Security number; account numbers and passwords; and bank account and credit card information — sometimes even the account holder’s mother’s maiden name or other private information used for security purposes.Here are some measures you can take to avoid getting ‘hooked’ by a phishing scheme:
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