Hyper-vigilance especially needed during tough times

The financial mess the US finds itself in right now isn't the cause of phishing expeditions, but I do know that the crisis is making some people desperate. Greed is a big motivator for e-mail and Internet scams, but the threat of being destitute will undoubtedly push otherwise upstanding, law abiding citizens to prey upon others. If you regularly send and receive email and/or surf the Net, you'd better stay vigilant. I've heard from plenty of my contemporaries that they're still receiving bogus email offers and solicitations - even those who have quality anti-virus and security measures installed.

And it's not only via our computers that we're at risk. Just last week my brother got a phone call at home from an authentic sounding caller purporting to be a local hospital representative. She knew his name and address (not hard to find for most sleuths) and just needed his social security number due to an urgent situation. My brother's pretty savvy and naturally he questioned her about the reason for her request. She only kept insisting that the matter was important - yet confidential - and that it was imperative he provide his SSN. He never did cave and of course, never heard another word about the matter.

While most of us don't enjoy being cynical, this reminds me that it's a dog-eat-dog world and there are people out there who prey on others. Sometimes the social engineering tactics work on our fear (maybe someone we know is in the hospital) sometimes they're working on our greed (an e-mail notifying us of an old unclaimed bank account in our name) - but no matter what, if we're vigilant they're usually pretty transparent. Now more than ever, err on the side of caution.