What is Phishing?
Phishing is a type of online scam where criminals send fraudulent emails or create fake websites pretending to be from legitimate companies in order to steal personal information. The goal is to trick victims into disclosing sensitive data like credit card numbers, account logins, or social security numbers.
Phishing scams often look very convincing and can be hard to spot. Scammers will go to great lengths to mimic the branding of banks, online retailers, social media sites, and other organizations people trust. However, with some knowledge of common phishing techniques, you can avoid getting hooked.
How Phishing Scams Work
Phishing scams typically work in a few different ways:
Spoofed Emails
Scammers will send emails that appear to come from a real company you may deal with. The message may claim there is a problem with your account that requires immediate action. Links in the email direct you to a fake login page designed to steal your credentials.
Emails may also falsely alert you that suspicious activity was detected, a payment didn’t go through, an order has shipped, or that you’ve won a contest. Any call-to-action gets you to provide private info directly to criminals.
Fake Websites
Along with spoofed emails, phishing scams often involve imitation websites. Scammers buy domains and design sites nearly identical to the real one. These fake sites funnel your login details and financial information straight to scammers.
Malware Downloads
Some phishing emails encourage you to download attachments containing malicious software. Once downloaded, this malware can infect your device and steal data.
Vishing and Smishing
Scammers also use phone calls known as vishing and text messages known as smishing to phish information from victims. These scams often claim there is a problem with your bank account or request personal details to verify your identity.
Examples of Phishing Scams
Some of the most common targets for phishing include:
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Banks: Emails impersonating banks, containing fake login pages nearly identical to the real website.
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Online retailers: Phishing for account details by impersonating Amazon, eBay, Apple, and other major retailers.
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Social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter phishing is popular to steal account login credentials.
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Phone providers: Scams impersonating phone carriers and requesting you to verify or update account information.
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Payment services: Fake emails and sites impersonating PayPal, Venmo, and mobile payment apps.
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Cloud storage: Phishing targeting services like Dropbox and Google Drive in order to steal files and data.
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Government agencies: Scams mimicking IRS, SSA, USPS, or other agencies claiming you owe money or that there is an issue with your account or benefits.
How to Spot Phishing Scams
While phishing emails and sites are getting more sophisticated, there are some key signs to look for:
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Generic greetings like “Dear user” instead of your name. Legit companies normally address you directly.
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Spoofed sender address. Even if the “from name” looks real, check that the sender email matches the company’s domain.
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Suspicious links. Don’t click links in unexpected emails. Hover to preview the URL for misspellings or unusual domains.
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Requests for information. Real companies won’t ask for sensitive information over email.
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Spelling and grammar mistakes. Sloppy language is a giveaway.
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Threats or a sense of urgency. Scare tactics pressure you to act before thinking.
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Attachments. Don’t open attachments from unknown senders.
How to Avoid Being Phished
Here are some tips to protect yourself from phishing scams:
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Be suspicious of unsolicited emails and texts. Don’t click on links or attachments from unknown senders.
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Verify legitimacy before providing info. Call the company directly on a known number before responding to account issues.
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Check URLs carefully. Hover over any links to inspect their real destination before clicking.
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Use antivirus software. It can detect and block phishing sites and malware.
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Turn on two-factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of security to accounts.
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Watch out for coercion. Scammers use fear and urgency to override common sense.
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Don’t email private information. Legitimate companies will never request sensitive details via email.
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Report phishing attempts. Alert companies when you receive phishing emails claiming to be from them.
What to Do if You Provide Information to a Scammer
If you shared any sensitive personal or financial details with a phishing scam:
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Call banks/credit card companies. Alert them to possible fraudulent use of your accounts.
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Change passwords. Update logins for any compromised accounts right away. Make the new passwords strong and unique.
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Place fraud alerts. Contact credit agencies to put a fraud alert on your credit reports.
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Monitor statements. Watch for any suspicious charges and report them promptly.
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Scan for malware. Run full system scans to check for any potential infections or keylogging software.
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File a report. Report the phishing scam to the FTC and local law enforcement.
Conclusion
Phishing scams can catch even tech-savvy users off guard due to how convincing they can be. However, staying alert to red flags, verifying legitimacy, and using secure practices can help you spot and stop phishing attempts. Being cautious about sharing any sensitive data helps keep you and your information safe from scammers.
