Scenario 2: How should Ryan respond?

Ryan just received an email. He needs to decide how to respond. Given his situation, click on the choice you think is best.

A few days ago, Ryan was browsing online for discount airfares. He followed a pop-ad to a Web site and entered his email address to receive special sale updates. Today he received an email telling him he would win some cool luggage plus qualify for a for a free 3-night trip to Cancun just by emailing back his customer profile information including credit card number.

Provide the information. He’s already won, and they can’t charge to his card without his permission.

The consequences of your choice

See the consequences of this choice for Ryan and hear what your guide has to say.

“This is so messed up! I shouldn’t have replied to that email. It seemed so easy to win those prizes. Then I found out the email was a “phishing” scam and I gave my credit card number to criminals, not a travel company! I’ll never put my credit card number in an email again."

Sorry, this wasn’t good advice. It’s never safe to put your financial information in an email. Also, Ryan didn’t know for sure whether the company was legitimate. If you’re not sure whether you’re actually communicating with a company that you know and trust, don’t respond.

Don’t email back. This looks like a scam.

The consequences of your choice

See the consequences of this choice for Ryan and hear what your guide has to say.

“Man, I’m happy played it safe! Not responding was the right way to go. I know that one of the ways criminals commit fraud is by directing people to phony Web sites that look real and “phishing” for credit card numbers. I only buy from businesses I know for sure are legitimate. And unless I initiated the communication, I don’t respond. If I have any doubts about a company, it’s not worth the risk.”

You’re right! It’s never a good idea to provide financial info in an email. If Ryan had, he would likely have been the victim of fraud. This wasn’t a company Ryan knew and trusted, so he was smart not to respond.

It’s not safe to reply by email. Call the company and provide the information by phone.

The consequences of your choice

See the consequences of this choice for Ryan and hear what your guide has to say.

“I definitely made a mistake. The site and 800# seemed legitimate, but after I gave my information, I had a bad feeling about it. I called my credit card company and found out the Web site was phony and that the email was an example of “phishing.” Now it looks like my identity and some money may have been stolen. It’s going to take me tons of time to clean up this mess!”

You were smart to advise Ryan not to email his info. But he should never give his credit card number over the phone either, unless he initiated the call. If you’re not sure whether you’re actually communicating with a company that you know and trust, don’t respond.

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For a lot more information about financial fraud and how to avoid it, click on Library. Click the Next button to continue.

Never provide your credit card number in an email! Never give out your credit card number over the phone unless you initiated the call.

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