Phishing & Scams

Phishing is one of the most common and dangerous forms of cybercrime. It involves tricking individuals into revealing personal or financial information by pretending to be a trusted source. Scammers use emails, text messages, phone calls, and even fake websites to steal usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and identities.

These attacks have become more sophisticated, often using logos, formatting, and wording that make them appear completely legitimate. Understanding how phishing works — and how to protect yourself — is critical in today’s digital world.

Common Types of Phishing

• Email Phishing – Fake emails imitating trusted companies like banks, PayPal, or Amazon.
• Spear Phishing – Targeted attacks against specific people, often in workplaces, with personalized details.
• Whaling – Aimed at executives or decision-makers (“big fish”) with authority to approve transactions.
• Smishing – Phishing via SMS messages that contain malicious links.
• Vishing – Voice phishing; phone calls pretending to be from banks, government, or tech support.
• Clone Phishing – A real email you’ve received is copied and altered with a dangerous link or file.
• Business Email Compromise (BEC) – Hackers impersonate a CEO or finance officer to trick employees into wiring money.
• Social Media Phishing – Fake messages on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter with links to fake login pages.

How to Recognize Phishing Attempts

Phishing attacks can be very convincing, but most share warning signs:

• Urgent or threatening language: “Your account will be suspended unless you act now.”
• Strange sender addresses that don’t match the official domain (e.g., support@paypa1.com instead of support@paypal.com).
• Links that look legitimate but redirect elsewhere. (Always hover before clicking.)
• Poor spelling, odd formatting, or generic greetings like “Dear Customer.”
• Unexpected attachments, especially ZIP or EXE files.
• Requests for sensitive information such as passwords, SSNs, or credit card numbers.

Examples of Phishing Scams

Real-World Consequences of Phishing

• Identity Theft – Attackers can open bank accounts, apply for loans, or commit fraud in your name.
• Financial Loss – Both individuals and businesses have lost millions from fraudulent transfers.
• Data Breaches – A single employee clicking a phishing link can give hackers access to entire company systems.
• Reputation Damage – Victims often feel ashamed, and companies suffer loss of customer trust.
• Malware Infections – Phishing often delivers ransomware or spyware.

How to Protect Yourself

• Be skeptical of urgent messages asking you to click links or download files.
• Manually type in website addresses instead of clicking suspicious links.
• Use strong, unique passwords for each account (avoid reuse).
• Enable multi-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible.
• Keep your operating system and apps updated to patch vulnerabilities.
• Install antivirus and use email filters to catch known phishing messages.
• Verify requests for money or data with a phone call — never just trust an email.

Real-World Example

In 2016, Snapchat fell victim to a phishing scam when a cybercriminal impersonated the CEO and requested payroll information. An employee sent over sensitive data, exposing employee tax details. This shows that phishing can target anyone, including tech companies with strong defenses.

AI & Deepfake Phishing

Attackers are now using AI to create convincing deepfake audio and video to impersonate executives or family members. For example, in 2019, a UK energy firm was tricked into transferring €220,000 when scammers used AI to mimic the voice of the CEO. This highlights that phishing is evolving rapidly and defenses must keep up.

What to Do If You Fall for a Phishing Scam

• Immediately change your passwords on the compromised accounts.
• Enable 2FA to block further unauthorized access.
• Report the phishing attempt to your bank, email provider, or IT security team.
• Check your credit report for unusual activity.
• Scan your computer or phone for malware.
• If money was stolen, contact your bank immediately to attempt recovery.