Phishing is one of the most common and dangerous cyber threats in today’s digital world. In these scams, criminals disguise themselves as trustworthy entities to trick you into sharing sensitive information, like passwords, credit card details or Social Security numbers.

With phishing attacks constantly evolving, understanding how they work and how to protect yourself is crucial to staying safe while online. Here’s what you need to know about phishing scams and how to stay secure.

What is phishing?

Phishing is a cybercrime where scammers use deceptive messages to steal victims’ personal information. These messages can impersonate well-known companies, government agencies, celebrities or even people the victim knows. The goal is to create a sense of urgency, fear or curiosity, thus prompting the victim to click a malicious link or provide confidential details.

Phishing attacks come in various forms, including emails, phone calls and text messages. They’re often sophisticated and tailored to appear legitimate, making it challenging to spot them at first glance.

Common phishing scams

There are several ways phishing scams play out, including:

• Fake emails or texts from banks or credit unions claiming there’s an issue with your account.
• Phone calls posing as tech support, claiming your computer has a virus.
• Messages pretending to be from a delivery service and containing links to “track your package.”
• Messages from “celebrities” asking that you support an alleged cause
• Let’s take a closer look at the three most common variations of phishing scams and how they operate.

1. Email phishing

Email phishing is the most common type of phishing scam. In this ruse, criminals send fraudulent emails designed to look like they’re from trusted organizations, encouraging you to click a link or download an attachment. For example, an email that appears to be from your credit union or bank may instruct you to verify your account by clicking a link and logging in. The email may claim there’s a problem with your account that needs to be fixed, but the link leads to a fake website where your credentials are stolen.

Red flags to watch for:

• Urgent language. “Your account will be locked if you don’t act now!”
• Generic greetings. “Dear Customer” instead of your name.
• Suspicious email addresses. Official-looking emails from fake-looking addresses are likely the work of scammers.
• Spelling and grammar errors. Legitimate companies rarely send emails with typos.
• Unexpected attachments. Attached files from unknown senders could contain malware.

2. Vishing (voice phishing)

In vishing scams, scammers call victims and pretend to be legitimate representatives, often pressuring the victim into providing sensitive information. For example, a scammer calls, claiming to be from your credit union’s fraud department. They’ll tell you your account has been compromised and will ask for your PIN to secure it.

Red flags to watch for:

Unsolicited calls. Be wary if you weren’t expecting the call.
Requests for personal information. Legitimate organizations rarely ask for passwords or PINs over the phone.
High-pressure tactics. Scammers often create a sense of urgency to force quick decisions.
Spoofed numbers. Scammers can fake or mimic caller IDs to appear as legitimate organizations.

3. Smishing (text phishing)

Smishing uses text messaging to trick victims into clicking malicious links or sharing private information. For example, a text claims there’s a problem with your delivery and asks you to click a link to update your shipping details. The link leads to a fraudulent site.

Red flags to watch for:

Unexpected texts. Unsolicited texts from numbers you don’t recognize.
Links to unfamiliar websites. Hover over links to see where they lead before choosing to click or not.
Grammatical errors. Legitimate companies usually proofread their communications.
Too-good-to-be-true offers. If you see something like this, delete the message: “You’ve won a $1,000 gift card! Click here to claim!”

How to protect yourself

While phishing attempts are increasingly sophisticated, you can take steps to defend yourself:

1. Think before you click. Don’t click on links or download attachments from unknown sources.
   Verify the source. Contact the organization directly using official contact information, not the one provided in the message.
2. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). Add an extra layer of security to your accounts.
3. Inspect URLs. Hover over links to check for inconsistencies or misspellings.
4. Avoid sharing sensitive information. Legitimate organizations won’t ask for passwords or personal details via email, text or phone.
5. Use antivirus software. Keep your devices protected and ensure your software is up to date.
6. Educate yourself. Learn to recognize phishing attempts and stay informed about the latest scams.

Phishing scams are a constant threat, but staying vigilant can help you avoid falling victim. Whether it’s an email, phone call or text message, always approach unexpected communications with caution. You can outsmart the scammers—one fake email, call, or text at a time!