Phishing (pronounced fishing) is a term coined by Internet hackers who use e-mail lures (messages) to ‘fish’ confidential passwords and financial data from Internet users. These e-mails are disguised to look like a request from a legitimate organization such as a bank, credit card company, or retail merchant with whom recipients may already have a relationship.
This practice of "phishing" or “spoofing” is growing rapidly. These fraudulent e-mails are most often mass-mailed or "spammed" to thousands of potential victims. "Phishing" messages often include a warning about a problem related to the recipient's account and requests the recipient to respond by providing specific confidential information.
Victims may be asked to provide confidential account information by responding via e-mail, or they may be directed to click on a link that takes them to a legitimate looking webpage on which they are instructed to provide the confidential information. This information will allow the perpetrator to gain access to the victim's accounts and steal the victim's identity.
Do not trust or act upon unsolicited e-mails that request confidential information. Third Federal will never ask you to submit information such as account numbers, PINs, Social Security numbers, passwords or other confidential financial information via e-mail. If you receive an e-mail that appears to be from Third Federal, and it solicits you for this type of confidential financial information, it is most likely fraudulent. You should contact our Customer Care Department immediately at
1-800-844-7333 or 216-641-6000 and, if possible, forward the e-mail to abuse@thirdfederal.com.