By mimicking these pages, such as eBay, PayPal or financial institutions, scammers are able to get you to enter various identity information pieces such as credit card numbers, pin numbers and passwords. Once a phisher has this information, your credit card can be used to make purchases or your entire bank account can be withdrawn.

To avoid these malicious problems, which could cause you great financial harm and distress, here are a few tips, courtesy of the Winnipeg Police Service:

• If you receive an e-mail pretending to be from a financial institution, or any business, that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply or click on the link in the e-mail. Remember that legitimate banks and businesses will never ask for confidential information through regular e-mail.

• Do not trust e-mail headers. They can be easily forged.

• Look for misspelled words.

• Remember that the hyperlink in the e-mail that you click on may not connect you with the site you believe it will.

• Routinely review your credit card and bank statements for unauthorized or suspicious transactions.

• Protect your computer with up-to-date anti-virus software, spyware filters, e-mail filtersand firewall programs.

• Contact the financial institution immediately via phone with a known phone number, to report any suspicious activity.

• Always report phishing or “spoofed” e-mails.