Phishing scams are one of the most common ways that hackers steal personal information and money. In a phishing scam, hackers will send you an email or message that looks like it's from a legitimate source, such as a bank or credit card company. The email or message will usually contain a link that, if clicked, will take you to a fake website that looks like the legitimate website. Once you're on the fake website, the hackers will try to trick you into entering your personal information, such as your login information, credit card number, or Social Security number.
Here are some of the most common phishing scams:
Emails that appear to be from your bank or credit card company.
Emails that offer free gifts or prizes.
Emails that ask for donations.
Here are some tips on how to avoid phishing scams:
Be suspicious of any email or message that asks for personal information. Legitimate companies will never ask for your personal information in an email or message.
Don't click on links in emails or messages from unknown senders. If you're not sure if an email or message is legitimate, hover your mouse over the link to see the actual URL. If the URL doesn't look like it belongs to the legitimate website, don't click on it.
Only enter your personal information on websites that you trust. If you're not sure if a website is legitimate, look for the "https" in the URL. This means that the website is secure and that your information will be encrypted.
Keep your software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that can help protect you from phishing scams.
Use a security solution. A security solution can help protect you from phishing scams and other threats.