Phishing Threatens Agents, Carriers, Insureds Damaged reputations, legal problems may be the result

As if cybercriminals, spam, virus attacks and spyware werent bad enough, theres a new technology threat fast gaining ground that targets just about everyone but could result in damage to business reputations, lawsuits and potential violations of federal privacy regulations for insurance agents and carriers, experts warn.

"Phishing" involves a trap laid for unwary computer users who received spoofed (fake) e-mails or visit fraudulent Web sites and are fooled into divulging personal financial data such as credit card numbers, accout user names and passwords, social security numbers, etc., according to the Anti-Phishing Working Group, based in Menlo Park, Calif. The APWG describes itself as "the global counter-phishing organization of stakeholders" whose members include private companies, government and law enforcement agencies, and sponsors from the security technology vendor community.