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ProtectionPower.ca offers tips to help Canadians recognize and stay safe from email scams

BURLINGTON, ONT –  April 12, 2011 – ProtectionPower.ca is warning Canadian consumers to be on high alert following a massive data breach at Epsilon Interactive, one of North America's largest email marketing companies. Hackers reportedly accessed millions of names and e-mail addresses, many of them belonging to Canadians.

The hackers captured the Canadian email lists of a number of major companies, including Air Miles Canada, Best Buy Canada, TiVo, Hilton, Marriott, HomeDepot and TigerDirect. More corporations are stepping forward every day to notify consumers that they, too, have been hit.

The first email scams believed to be related to this breach have already been reported.

“We are already seeing increased reports of scams and highly personalized phishing emails as a result of this cyberattack,” says Sylvain Patry, identity theft expert and senior vice-president of ProtectionPower.ca, Canada's leading identity theft protection service.

“A significant number of the breached accounts belong to Canadians. For this reason, Canadians must all be on extra high alert right now, and well into the future.”

Phishing e-mails appear to come from a legitimate company or organization – but they're fraudulent and designed to get the recipient to reveal personal or financial information.
 
ProtectionPower.ca offers 5 tips for recognizing and avoiding email phishing scams:

1. Always be suspicious of unsolicited email from an unfamiliar address you don't recognize.
2. Never respond to any email or message requesting:
•Money
•Passwords
•Account information
•Personal details
•The recipient “verify your account” or “confirm your identity”


Legitimate institutions will not ask for these things. In most cases, friends and family will not, either. To make a financial transaction or donation, always contact the organization yourself.

3. Never send bank or credit card information over email
4. Never reply to threats such as “Respond within 48 hours or your account will be closed”
5. Never download attachments or follow links in a suspicious email, which may carry a virus or spyware

For more tools and resources to help you protect yourself from identity theft, visit ProtectionPower.ca.

About ProtectionPower.ca

Protection Power is a leading Canadian provider of advanced identity protection services and educational resources. Founded by a team of security experts with a background in credit/financial services and technology, Protection Power provides features and experience to help you stay in control of your financial life.