Limitations

• Email phishing filters selectively remove email that meet certain criteria. The criteria can include known senders of phishing email, suspicious attachments and phrases. Since it is possible for an email to bypass the filter, all email should be reviewed cautiously. Suspected phishing emails should be deleted immediately.
  
  

Consequences

• Phishing filters detect email that is suspicious and place it in the spam folder. Email service providers have the ability to detect when mass email is distributed by a sender. Email may be captured prior to entering the spam folder. The Federal Trade Commission works in conjunction with service providers and other organizations to prosecute those violating identity theft and privacy laws.