Press & PR

Broadband users have been advised to be on the lookout for phishing scams, which attempt to trick people into providing financial information by posing as an authoritative organisation such as a bank.

Apacs, the UK payments agency, suggests that there has been a 200 per cent increase in the number of reported incidences of phishing attacks during the first quarter of 2008 when compared to the same period last year.

Consumers are advised to be on the lookout for any emails posing to come from their bank requesting private financial data.

"The advice is quite simple: just remember that your bank will never send you emails asking you to disclose pin numbers, login details or complete passwords," said Sandra Quinn, director of communications at Apacs.

While many people are taking appropriate measures in avoiding phishing risks, the organisation notes that one in five internet users do not follow necessary precautions such as not opening suspicious email.

Security action group Anti-Phishing Working Group suggests that people should be suspicious of all such emails, even if they are personalised to individual recipients.

Vonage provides a secure way to keep in touch using broadband phone services, with the V-Plan 2 international tariff available from £7.99 per month.