When it comes to phishing, the best line of defense is you. If you pay attention to potential phishing traps and watch for telltale signs of a scam, you can minimize your risk of becoming a victim. Here are some scenarios you may encounter:
- An email appearing to be from a bank, credit card company, or other financial institution requests that you “confirm” your personal account information. Supposedly, your information has been lost, or your account is going to be closed, so it is “urgent” that you respond immediately.
- A phony email from the “fraud department” of a well-known company asks you to verify your information because they suspect you may be a victim of identity theft.
- An email may take advantage of a current event, such as the Anthem data breach, which scammers used to send phishing emails with malicious links for “free credit reporting.”
- An email claiming to be from a state lottery commission requests your banking information to deposit the “winnings” into your accounts.
- A scammer pretends to have a large sum of money and needs “someone trustworthy” to help access it. The scammer promises to share the wealth in exchange for your help – specifically, your financial information.
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