It has been a couple of years since I wrote an article concerning scams. The presence of scams just seems to increase daily. This week, Chief Jim Braun received three very convincing e-mail scams.

As I share the basics of these scams with you, please always remember, if you do not initiate the phone, personal or Internet contact, then do not ever give out personal information regardless of how credible the person or e-mail sounds.

For many years, there have been many forms of e-mail scams categorized as Nigerian e-mail/phishing scams. These scams now have a follow-up from the "World Bank Group" claiming to be working with the United Nations to help victims of Nigerian scams. Ultimately, this e-mail is once again attempting to get personal information about you to further steal your identity and your money.

A second e-mail received is a very convincing scam by folks claiming to represent Bank of America. The e-mail states that your Bank of America online account has been suspended for a high number of failed login attempts. It then instructs you to fill out a form and return it to them. It even throws a fake copyright notice at the bottom for Bank of America.

I have had an account illegally accessed, and I received a call from the bank. When they asked me to confirm who I was, asking personal information, I refused. They said they understood.

They then instructed me to call the 800 number on my bank statement and ask for the security department at an extension number. They did not attempt to give me a number to call that could be part of a scam.

Shortly after the chief received the first Bank of America scam e-mail, he received another stating that security screening of customer activity has led them to believe that his card is being used without authorization.

Again, the e-mail is seeking information from the recipient. The e-mails are very convincing, but are not legitimate. Upon receipt of these e-mails, Braun contacted Bank of America, which said it would investigate.

Bank of America provided the following guidance concerning phishing and fraudulent e-mails:

* Unlike phishing e-mails, we will never ask you to verify personal information in response to an e-mail.

* Most fake communications convey a sense of urgency by threatening discontinued service.

* Many fraudulent e-mails contain misspellings, incorrect grammar and poor punctuation.

* Links within the fake e-mail might appear valid, but deliver you to a fraudulent site.

* Phishing e-mails often use generic salutations like "Dear Customer" or "Dear account holder" instead of your name.

* The address from which the e-mail was sent is often not one from the company it claims to be.

The best defense is to protect your personal information as best you can. Delete un-opened or unsolicited e-mails. Give no personal information to anyone who initiates contact with you, no matter how convincing they might be.

Never give a person you don't know your Social Security number, your bank account number, driver's license number, date of birth or credit card number. If you did not make the call or initiate the contact, you really don't know how legitimate this person is.

Be safe and please protect your personal information. If you have questions, please feel free to call the Hays Police Department at (785) 625-1030 or 625-1011.

Philip Hartsfield is assistant chief of the Hays Police Department.