What is Phishing?

Phishing is a common cybercrime in which a scammer sends fraudulent communications that appear to come from a trustworthy source in order to steal sensitive information. This may include login credentials, credit card numbers and personal identification information. While email is the most common medium, phishing attacks can take several forms. These messages usually aim to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment.

Key Takeaways

• Phishing is a common cybercrime where scammers send fraudulent communications that appear to come from a trustworthy source in order to acquire personal information. 
• Most phishing scams are sent via email.
• Websites or email addresses often seem identical to official websites, tricking users into sharing personal information with scammers.

Understanding How Phishing Works

In today’s digital age, the Internet has provided a thriving hub for new types of scams and fraudulent practices. Phishing has become a common technique for committing fraud online. This deceptive tactic is used by cybercriminals to trick individuals into sharing sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or other personal identification data. These attacks aim to appear as trusted, reliable and legitimate at a first balance typically by sending messages from familiar-looking email addresses and using popular brand logos. These messages generally contain links or attachments that lead to counterfeit websites designed to mimic real ones. Once on these fake sites, victims are prompted to share confidential information. The attackers use these details for a variety of unlawful purposes, such as identity theft and financial fraud.

Avoiding Phishing Attacks

Phishing scammers exploit the trust people place in specific websites and brands, tricking users into sharing information with entities that they believe to be trustworthy. This is often what makes phishing easy to fall victim to. However, it is crucial to keep in mind that there are several steps you can take to protect yourself from a phishing attack. If you receive a message asking you to enter a website or open an attachment, an important question to ask yourself is whether you currently have an account with the company or know the person who contacted you. Other critical tips to help protect yourself from phishing attacks include:

• Stay informed on common phishing practices
• Keep a close eye out for red flags in emails, text messages and social media messaging
• Avoid clicking on or engaging with suspicious links
• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Be cautious about sharing sensitive information online 
• Update your passwords to be unique and strong
• Use email filtering and spam filters
• Verify suspicious requests for funds or sensitive data
• Backup important data

Bottom Line

If you think a phishing scammer has access to your personal information, such as credit card details, your Social Security number or bank account number, it is imperative that you inform the relevant authorities as soon as possible. Work with a skilled attorney to seek justice from your attacker and facilitate the recovery of any financial losses. Alternatively, if you have been accused of phishing, consider that this is a serious criminal charge that requires legal expertise. Speak with a lawyer in your area today.