What is Phishing?

“Phishing” is when criminals use email, phone and online scams to purposefully and maliciously trick people into sharing information such as passwords, Social Security numbers, account and credit card details and even your mother’s maiden name! Phishing is Phraud and it is a crime.

Defend Yourself:

• Educate yourself, your family, and if applicable, your co-workers, clients and business partners on what Information Theft is, and what you can do to protect yourself.
• No legitimate business or government agency will ever ask for personal information via email or phone unless you initiate the contact. If you receive such a request, DON’T RESPOND.

Quick Facts:

• According to a Federal Trade Commission report, Information Theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States. It occurs once every 79 seconds on average. In 2005, the cost to consumers was in excess of $5,000,000,000, while the cost to businesses was in excess of $47,000,000,000. The average consumer loss from a phishing attack is $1200.
• According to a Symantec presentation, 1 out of every 125 emails sent is a phishing attack. In 2005, phishing attacks rose by 90%.
• The Anti-Phishing Working Group reports that 5.7 billion phishing emails are sent each month, and that over 150,000 unique phishing attacks and 3,000 phishing websites are reported per month.

What information are Phishers after?       

Phishers are interested in gathering information which, by nature, is private and/or confidential, especially if this information can help them steal your identity.

Information Theft targets a wide array of information, including, but not limited to:

• Social Security Numbers.
• Driver’s License Numbers.
• Date and Place of Birth.
• Mother’s Maiden Name.
• Account Numbers.
• PINs.
• Usernames.
• Passwords.
• Personal Information.
• Any confidential information that criminals can either directly use or resell.

Defend Yourself:

• Do not disclose any personal information unless the requester has a valid need for the information.
• Don’t hesitate to ask how your information is going to be protected.
• Never agree to have your information shared or sold.
• Remember: No legitimate business or government agency will ever ask for personal information via email or phone unless you initiate the contact. If you receive such a request, DON’T RESPOND!



How NOT to become a Victim.

Phishing may appear to be an anonymous crime, but it is not a victimless crime. However, we have good news: simple techniques exist to NOT become a Phishing Victim.

Simple Techniques:

• Never provide confidential information unless you started the conversation. Never answer an email, pop-up, phone call, letter, etc. that asks for personal information. Legitimate companies do NOT ask for this information, ever!
• Be suspicious! Because something is written down in an email or in a pop-up does not mean that it is true and legitimate.
• Do not click on a link provided in an email or enter information in a pop-up window. Go to the website yourself and from there navigate to the area of interest.
• Use anti-malware solutions that are updated. This will stop the installation of crimeware on your computer that could harvest your information.
• Do not use public computers or wireless networks to conduct confidential activities. This includes wi-fi hot spots, kiosk computers, cybercafés.
• Shred all documents that contain personal, sensitive or confidential information.




What to do if you have been phished?      

If you are a phishing victim, it is important for you to follow these simple instructions to minimize the damage caused by the criminals who stole your information.

Report it!

• Place a Fraud Alert on your Credit Report.
• Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
• File a police report.
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. By sharing your identity theft complaint with the FTC, you will provide important information that can help law enforcement officials across the nation track down identity thieves and stop them. The FTC can refer victims’ complaints to other government agencies and companies for further action, as well as investigate companies for violations of laws the agency enforces.
• Monitor your bank accounts, credit card accounts and credit report.

Spotlight on Reporting Action Plan:

• Write down the name of everyone you talk to, what he or she tells you, and the date the conversation occurred.
• Follow up in writing with all contacts you’ve made on the phone or in person. Use certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company or organization received and when.
• Keep copies of all correspondence or forms you send.
• Keep the originals of supporting documents, like police reports and letters to and from creditors; send copies only.

Remember:

• If you are a victim of phishing, others in your community will be, too. The sooner you report it, the sooner you can help protect your community against these criminals!

For Immediate Release:

Maine Hosting Solutions, the largest internet web hosting company in the state of Maine, is pleased to announce the addition of Dave Koenig to it’s talented group of professionals.

A native Texan and retired U. S. Navy Chief Petty Officer, Dave has been residing in Bath, Maine for the past five years. Recent employment has been with Mac-Care, a Macintosh service and support business in Bath, and website administrator of TheFineArtPrintGallery.com also located in Bath.

Dave brings with him a resume of computer expertise and internet knowledge to further enhance Maine Hosting Solutions’ widely renowned reputation for superior quality and customer service in the Web Hosting and Design industry.

About Maine Hosting Solutions

Located in Bath, Maine, Maine Hosting Solutions offers a broad range of services including Web hosting, design, programming and promotion to clients throughout the world. Its unique combination of state-of-the art servers, innovative programming techniques and guerilla search engine strategies set the company apart from the competition. When the company was established in 1996, Maine Hosting Solutions, primarily catered toward small businesses and Maine Guides. Through industry acquisitions after the dot com fallout at the end of the millennium, MHS has developed into a recognized leader in the state. MHS now has clients of varying sizes worldwide. With a concentration on personalized customer service, MHS continues to have a small company feel even as the largest hosting company in the state. Selected by Goldline Research as one of The Most Dependable™Web Design Firms of The Northeast for 2008, and featured in Entrepreneur Magazine. Learn more about Maine Hosting Solutions online at www.mainehost.com. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

e-onlinedata and Maine Hosting Solutions Partner to Deliver Comprehensive

E-commerce Solutions 

Maine-based Companies’ Combined Resources Will Offer Greater Value and Service for Online Merchants 

PORTLAND and BATH, Maine — July 22, 2008 — e-onlinedata, a subsidiary of PowerPay, Maine’s largest merchant processor, and Maine Hosting Solutions (MHS), a premier provider of Web hosting technology, support and design, today announced a partnership to bring MHS customers comprehensive e-commerce solutions, cost savings and preferred access to Authorize.Net.

The relationship between e-onlinedata and MHS, Maine’s largest Web hosting company, makes it easier for MHS clients to accept credit and debit cards from their e-commerce customers. Together, the companies offer best in class technical and customer support, access to discounted Visa/MasterCard merchant accounts and the safety and security of one of the Web’s largest payment gateway providers.

“We are excited to be working with another great Maine company,” said Steve Goodrich, CEO, e-onlinedata. “This partnership gives us the opportunity to offer quality processing solutions to MHS customers. Having the ability to accept online payments will increase sales and help their business partners grow.”

MHS e-commerce clients will benefit from e-onlinedata’s best in the industry pricing and it’s uncompromising commitment to service thanks to in-house underwriting and risk management, customer service, 24/7 technical support, information technology and product development.

“It’s exciting to see two Maine businesses come together to offer a solution that manages every aspect of a company’s online presence,” said Daniel Eosco of Maine Hosting Solutions. “Now MHS users have a complete payment processing solution through a single point of contact based right here in Maine.”

About e-onlinedata

e-onlinedata, a wholly owned subsidiary of PowerPay, is the nation’s most trusted Internet-based merchant account provider and the largest reseller of Authorize.Net payment gateway. PowerPay is one of the fastest-growing providers of integrated e-commerce and retail payment solutions in the United States. Founded in 2003, PowerPay offers a broad portfolio of payment processing solutions to merchants via four major acquisition channels: e-commerce, software developers, financial institutions and direct merchant-level sales. Additionally, the company is one of the few payment processing organizations with total in-house merchant underwriting, risk management, customer service, technical support, information technology, product development and inside sales departments. The Portland, Maine-based company supports all major credit and debit cards, electronic benefits transfer (EBT), recurring bill payment and a variety of card-based payments. Together, PowerPay and e-onlinedata deliver comprehensive, innovative solutions that help customers grow their businesses and improve bottom lines. In 2007, the Best Companies Group, in partnership with the Maine Department of Labor, recognized PowerPay as one of the Best Places to Work in Maine. For additional information about e-onlinedata and PowerPay, please visit www.e-onlinedata.com or www.powerpay.biz

About Maine Hosting Solutions

Located in Bath, Maine, Maine Hosting Solutions offers a broad range of services including Web hosting, design, programming and promotion to clients throughout the world. Its unique combination of state-of-the art servers, innovative programming techniques and guerilla search engine strategies set the company apart from the competition. When the company was established in 1996, Maine Hosting Solutions, primarily catered toward small businesses and Maine Guides. Through industry acquisitions after the dot com fallout at the end of the millennium, MHS has developed into a recognized leader in the state. MHS now has clients of varying sizes worldwide. With a concentration on personalized customer service, MHS continues to have a small company feel even as the largest hosting company in the state. Selected by Goldline Research as one of The Most Dependable™Web Design Firms of The Northeast for 2008, and featured in Entrepreneur Magazine. Learn more about Maine Hosting Solutions online at www.mainehost.com. 

Maine Hosting Solutions, through its partnership with e-onlinedata, is excited to offer discounted Visa/MasterCard Merchant Accounts and FREE Set-Up on Authorize.Net Secure Payment Gateways!

As a customer of Maine Hosting Solutions, you can now take advantage of Special Rates & Fees on an e-onlinedata Merchant Account w/Authorize.Net Secure Payment Gateway

Click here for complete rate information!