Phishing is a term used to describe when a person attempts to steal your password or security question. Phishing can be IMs sent asking you for your password, or links to fake login pages or viruses.

How can I Detect a Phisher?
Any IM you recieve asking for your password or security question is called phishing.

What Do IMs of Phishers look like?
Watch out for IMs that look like the following below. Remember any IM asking you for your password is a phishing attempt, even if it looks as if it is from AOL.

• Hello, My name is Steve, I Am an Aol Customer Service Representative, due to recent (insert aol techincal problem here) we have lost your password on file. Please send an IM with your password to restore access to AIM.
• Dear AIM Members, due to a recent (insert aol technical problem here), Our records have been damaged, please respond with your password to continue your service from termination.
• Your screen name (yourscreenname) is now signed into Aol Instant Messenger in 2 locations. To sign off other locations, reply to this message with your password.
• We have noticed you have sent spam links to other members, to stop these messages please type 1 and your password.
• I took new pictures on myspace. Click here to see my new myspace pictures
• Hey, I have pets too, my dog's name is Tyke, Whats your pet's name?
• Cool, My Favorite Food is Pizza, whats your favorite food?
• Ya one of my favorite teachers was Ms. Smith, who was your favorite teacher?
• I just wanted to see if i know you, what street do you live on again?
• LOL My dad's middle name is Antoine, what was your dad's middle name?
• The Yankees? I like the red sox, I hope they aren't your favorite sports team?
• Aw thats sweet, when did you get married?
• You graduated? Wow! Which highschool did you go to?
• I've watched so many movies, what was your top 5 favorite movies of all time?

*Did you know that phishing has increased by 400% since 2002*