Phishing

Phishing is a type of online scam where attackers pretend to be someone you trust to trick you into sharing personal information like passwords, credit card numbers, or other sensitive information. These attacks usually happen through email, text messages, or fake websites that look real but are set up to steal your information.

Types of Phishing Attacks

Email Phishing: This is the most common type of phishing. You might receive an email that looks like it’s from a trusted source, like your bank, asking you to click on a link or download an attachment.

Spear Phishing: This type of phishing is more personalized. The attacker knows something about you, like your name or where you work, and uses that information to make the scam more convincing.

Smishing and Vishing: These are phishing attacks done through text messages (smishing) or phone calls (vishing). The goal is the same—to trick you into giving up personal information/

What’s Wrong With This Email?

Sense of Urgency: The email tries to scare you into acting quickly by saying your account will be suspended.

Fake Link: The link might look like it leads to a real site, but it takes you to a fake site designed to steal your information. For example, instead of the authentic securebanking.com, it could lead to securebanking.eu or securedbanking.com

Generic Greeting: The email doesn’t use your name, which can be a sign that it’s not really from your bank.

Suspicious Sender: The email address might look real, but it could be slightly altered to trick you.

Poor Grammar and Formatting: Phishing emails often contain spelling errors, awkward phrasing, or inconsistent formatting.

Unsolicited Request for Sensitive Information: Reputable organizations rarely ask for sensitive information through email, especially with threats of account suspension.

How to Protect Yourself

• Check the Sender’s Email Address: Look closely at the email address. If something seems off, don’t trust it.
• Don’t Click on Links in Unsolicited Emails: Hover over links to see where they lead before clicking. If you’re unsure, don’t click.
• Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Having different passwords for each account helps protect you if one of your accounts gets hacked.
• Contact the bank: Don’t hesitate to contact the institution to double-check the authenticity of a message if you have any doubts. It can take just a bit of your time, but it can save you a lot of trouble. 
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adding an extra step to your login process, like a text message code, makes it harder for hackers to access your accounts.
• Stay Informed: Keep learning about new phishing tactics so you can recognize them and stay safe