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Phishing Scams

Protecting Yourself from Phishing Scams

Phishing scams are fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, credit card details, and other personal information by disguising as a trustworthy entity in digital communication. Typically carried out through email, these scams can also occur via text messages (smishing) or phone calls (vishing). Scammers create messages that mimic legitimate companies or organizations, urging recipients to click on malicious links or attachments that lead to fake websites designed to steal information.

Phishing Scam Illustration

Things to Be Careful About:

  • Suspicious Emails and Messages: Be skeptical of emails or messages that contain urgent requests for personal information, unexpected attachments, or links to unfamiliar websites.
  • Look-alike Domains: Pay attention to the sender's email address and the URLs of websites you're directed to. Phishing attempts often use addresses that look similar to those of legitimate companies but contain subtle differences.
  • Requests for Personal Information: Legitimate organizations will not ask for sensitive information through insecure channels like email.
  • Grammatical Errors and Odd Phrasing: Many phishing attempts are plagued by poor grammar and unusual wording.

Actions That Can Be Taken:

  1. Verify Contact: If you receive a suspicious email or message claiming to be from a legitimate company, contact the company directly through a verified phone number or website to confirm the communication's authenticity.
  2. Use Anti-Phishing Tools: Install security software that offers email and browsing protection. Ensure your software, including your web browser, is up to date.
  3. Educate and Train: Regularly educate yourself and, if applicable, your employees about new phishing techniques and how to recognize phishing emails.
  4. Report Phishing Attempts: Report any suspected phishing emails to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org or forward the emails to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov.

By staying informed and cautious, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to phishing scams and protect your personal information from falling into the wrong hands.