You've likely heard of phishing scams that use fraudulent e-mails as bait. Now there's a new twist on the same scam – vishing, also called voice phishing.

Vishing scammers set up phone numbers through Internet-telephone services, then lure victims to disclose account numbers and other personal information over the phone with automated voice prompts. The operation moves so quickly that con artists can steal sensitive information and shut down phony telephone numbers in a matter of days.

The Voice Behind the Curtain
Vishing is initiated by an e-mail that may appear to be from your financial institution or an online merchant. The message may claim that your account has been disabled due to unauthorized access, or that your information needs to be verified to continue using the account or to prevent fraudulent activity.

Rather than linking to a look-alike Web site made for gathering information, as phishing scams do, vishing scams provide a phone number to call. These phone numbers can be set up with local area codes and designed with voice prompts that sound perfectly legitimate. Since consumers are already accustomed to entering account numbers before speaking with a representative, it's easy to enter the numbers before thinking twice.

• Protect yourself from these scams by not responding to requests for your personal information.
• Don't call phone numbers listed in "phishy" e-mails.
• Bookmark 3^rd Federal Bank, www.thirdfedbank.com, so you'll always be sure you're on the correct site.

The Federal Trade Commission recommends never turning over private information based on an e-mail request. Know that 3^rd Federal Bank will never ask for your personal information via e-mail.

You can file a complaint on the Federal Trade Commission's website, www.ftc.gov, or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.