Protect Yourself from Phishing Scams

Phishing is a cybercrime where fraudsters send fake communications to get your personal or banking information through suspicious emails, text messages or phone calls. Protect yourself from being reeled in to a scam by spotting the warning signs.

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What you need to know

Don't give out your personal information unless you know it's from a legitimate source
Search for warning signs in phishing emails, such as writing errors and design flaws
Install antivirus software on your devices to protect yourself from malware

What is phishing?

Phishing is a type of scam that fraudsters use to try to get your information through fake communications, such as emails, text messages or phone calls. The communications claim to be from a reliable source to get you to trust the sender. The emails and text messages often have similar designs to existing businesses they claim to be. Once the fraudsters get your information, they can steal your money or identity.

They may include several claims or requests:

Ask you to confirm personal information
Claim to notice suspicious activity or sign-on attempts
Claim you're eligible for government relief or tax refunds
Offer you free products, services or money
Tell you to select a link to make a payment or receive money

Learn about different forms of phishing

Email phishing

Fraudsters send emails with malicious links to get information through downloads or links. These emails copy a business' design brand and style to make them appear legitimate from someone you know.

Smishing

Fraudsters send text messages from what seem to be legitimate sources. These text messages include malicious links or phone numbers to steal your personal and banking information. This is also known as SMS phishing.

Spear phishing

Fraudsters send emails to specific people in an organization to get more data and hack their systems. These emails are usually personalized to make you believe you have a relationship with the sender.

Vishing

Fraudsters try to have a phone conversation claiming to be from a reputable company. The call is often an automated voice message stating you owe money to the government or a financial institution. This is also known as voice phishing.