PRESS RELEASE

SAN FRANCISCO, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Phishing attacks are on the rise. In 2011 phishing attempts jumped 37 percent compared to 2010[1]. And these attacks can be costly. According to RSA, phishing attacks resulted in an average of $4,500 in stolen funds per attack[2]. In time for National Consumer Protection Week coming up March 4 -10, 2012 Visa offers the following advice for consumers to avoid getting caught by the phishing hook.

Top 5 tips to avoid email phishing scams:

Consider all email requests for personal or payment information to be suspicious. Be cautious about clicking on links in unsolicited email that you receive. Check the legitimacy of any email inquiry requesting your personal or payment information by looking up the company's phone number separately and calling to verify the request. Watch for typos and bad grammar. These are warning signals that an email may be fraudulent. Use spam blockers and keep your anti-virus software up to date.

"Security is a top priority for Visa, which is why we believe it's important to inform consumers about how to carefully screen incoming emails for potential phishing scams," said Jennifer Fischer, Head of U.S. Payment System Risk for Visa Inc. "While Visa invests heavily in advanced fraud-fighting technologies, consumer education is an important component of Visa's approach to cardholder protection because consumers have an important role to play in preventing and detecting fraud."

Think you know how to catch a phish? Visit http://www.visasecuritysense.com/en_US/phishing-attack.jsp for an interactive example. News and information about the latest fraud scams and tips for protecting against fraud are also available via @VisaSecurity on Twitter.

[1] RSA Online Fraud Report – January 2012

[2] RSA Online Fraud Report – January 2012

SOURCE Visa Inc.