What Is Phishing?
Hackers and scammers use phishing scams to trick you into sharing a password or sensitive information.
Examples include:
- sharing a link to a fake login page
- asking for your password or private information directly, e.g. asking for your birthday, social security number, etc.
What Should I Look Out For?
Hackers and scammers will try to get your data any way they can.
Look out for:
- Emergencies or urgent messages — be careful if someone is rushing you to do something.
- Lost accounts or restricted access
- Mistakes or typos — if you see a lot of mistakes, the wrong email, or your name is missing.
- Suspicious links — be wary of links in emails that seem strange or suspicious.
If you see one or a combination of these, it could be a scam.
Tips To Stay Cybersafe
Worried after seeing a suspicious message?
Here are some tips for checking your accounts while staying safe:
- Visit your account with a trusted link or bookmark.
- Did you receive a message from someone you know ? Call them directly through a known number to double check.
- Did you receive a message from someone who says they know you? Call a trusted person that knows them to verify.
Otherwise... you can report the phishing attempt and delete it!
Can I Tell Them To Stop?
If you know you have received a scam message, the best thing you can do is block the sender and delete the message.
If you respond, you are letting the hacker know that they have found a "live" email or phone number. Then, you may see even more scam attempts.
Last updated September 28, 2023