During these last lazy days of summer, a fishing trip may seem like a great idea as a favorite pastime for many.

But beware of other types of ‘phishermen’ on ‘phishing expeditions’.

Phishing is a favorite way for scammers to try to get consumers to reveal personally identifiable information such as account numbers, social security numbers, or addresses.

Once a scammer has your personal information, they can wreak havoc on your personal financial management.

Methods familiar to most include elaborate copycat websites combined with emails and some kind of message that your account information needs to be re-verified due to some kind of special offer or the need to update the account database. of the institution.

With the recent credit crisis and the proliferation of specialty loan programs, homeowners have been the favorite targets. An example: email applications from a legitimate-sounding credit union that advertises low rates for mortgage refinancing. Or emails offering loan modification programs or ways to stop foreclosure.

Other techniques are taking advantage of the trend towards using more social networking sites. With the advent of resources like Linked In, Twitter, or Facebook, some identity thieves will find enough personal information (i.e. employment, residence, education) to help them become you.

Remember that a government agency or financial institution will never ask you to provide your personally identifiable information in an unsolicited email. One way to verify the authenticity of such an email is to scroll through the visible links in the email to see the website suffix. Anything other than ‘.com’, ‘.gov’, or ‘.org’ could indicate a computer server outside of the US and a possible source of scam. Also consider scrolling to the bottom of the email subject. Sometimes there are hidden links that can also provide an indication of the foreign origin of the email.

When in doubt, call the agency or company directly, but use a phone number provided on one of your statements, not in the email. You can also verify the legitimacy of the source by checking with the Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov) or trade organizations.

For example, a visit to the National Association of Credit Unions (www.ncua.gov) determined that the credit union’s refinance offer was bogus. Banks, financial services companies, and insurers have industry regulators and trade groups that can verify the legitimate existence of an organization.

Not all ‘phishing’ expeditions are high-tech. Some are as low-tech as rummaging through trash cans and trash cans for mail showing account numbers. Others include phone calls that use the same “account information update” message as indicated in the email version above.

So what can you do to protect yourself? Be careful not to leave information lying around. When online, clear your ‘cookies’ frequently and avoid leaving your passwords or credit card information preloaded on the financial websites you visit. Make sure your computer is protected with up-to-date versions of anti-spyware, anti-malware, and pop-up blockers. Check your credit report to make sure it is accurate and that no unauthorized new accounts have been opened in your name. Get a free copy of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com.

You can protect yourself offline by destroying old financial records, as well as credit card offers, as these are prime sources for junk divers.

Don’t just throw away old computers, hard drives, or cell phones. There is too much information about them that can be recovered by a tech-savvy ID thief. Hard drives must be shredded or use a baseball bat. You will protect yourself and you can vent a little to take revenge for all the frustration that technology has caused you.

With a little effort, you can protect yourself and not become bait for an unwanted ‘phisherman’.