According to a report on Public Awareness of Internet Terms from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, “the average American internet user is not sure what podcasting is, what an RSS feed does, or what the term ‘phishing’ means.” In fact, less than 30% of internet users have a good idea of the definition of phishing.

Not knowing the meaning of podcasting is certainly excusable. Not knowing the meaning of phishing, however, cost 1.2 million U.S. computer users $929 million between May 2004 and May 2005.

It’s no secret that phishers are increasingly hijacking credit union brands, and even the NCUA’s brand has been used in phishing attempts. In fact, the Anti-Phishing Working Group specifically cites a major increase in the phishing of a “number of small and local credit unions” as leading to a significant increase in all brands being phished in May.

Fight Back

Use both online and offline channels to educate your members about phishing:

• Devote an entire section of your website to scam alerts.
• Print a phishing warning on the back of your statement envelopes.
• Record a message about phishing on your telephone system.
• Have each teller hand out a phishing awareness brochure with each deposit receipt.
• Offer free member workshops on preventing identity theft (host a “shredding party” like UW Credit Union for your members to recycle unwanted confidential documents).

Simply do whatever it takes to keep the message in front of your members, and don’t wait until your next quarterly newsletter to start.

Any other ideas?