There are tell-tale signs of phishing e-mails by simply observing it, but the problem is that these signs are not foolproof.  You may receive a legitimate-looking e-mail that links to "http://www.wellsfargo1.com" that would definitely raise a red flag, but phishers these days are becoming more sophisticated. They are able to hide those URLs so the link may look legitimate but it really isn't.

Here are some tips on how to protect yourself from having your credit card or bank account stolen from you, which your permitted!

Never, ever, click on e-mail links - If you receive an e-mail from your bank asking you to login and confirm your information, open up your web browser and type the site yourself. Again, DO NOT CLICK THE LINK IN YOUR E-MAIL! There may be some e-mails that are legitimate and include links, so typing the address would make it easier to for you to decide whether the website that the mail is leading you to is a valid site or not.

Invest in antivirus software - Go out and spend some actual cash for an antivirus software. It may be a bit expensive, but that amount will pale in comparison if your bank account gets hijacked and you're out of all your money.

Keep spyware in check - Sometimes, you don't even need to spend to protect yourself from phishing. Some of the best spyware out there is completely free. Yahoo!, for instance, provide an anti-spyware protection software that you can incorporate into your Internet Explorer browser. You could also check out Cnet's Spyware Center to read about and download the latest spyware programs.

Keep your software update - Be sure to keep all of your software updates-from Windows to your antivirus software. Those update pop-ups that might seem annoying are actually the best thing you can do for your computer to keep it protected from viruses and other infections that might result from clicking on a phishing e-mail.

Be smart - Exercise common sense when reading e-mails and browsing the Internet. If something looks suspicious, then stay away!