
Next, the phisher will create methods like fake emails or phony web pages to send messages that lure data from their victims.The phisher begins by determining who their targeted victims will be (whether at an organization or individual level) and creates strategies to collect data they can use to attack.And that doesn’t include all the phishing emails that get caught in your spam filter. How do you make sure you’re not one of these unlucky victims? It’s all about learning how to recognize phishing scams and resolving to never click on a link in a text or an email supposedly sent from a bank, credit-card provider, or other well-known company. The phishing email purported to be sent from Netflix and warned recipients that the streaming company is “having some trouble” accessing the customer’s billing information. The message asked victims to click on a link to update their payment method. That link, of course, didn’t take users to Netflix but instead to a fake website created by the scammers. These cybercriminals work in volume, and only need to trick a small number of victims to consider their work a success.Īs an example, in 2018 the Federal Trade Commission pointed to a phishing attack targeting Netflix users.

But phishers don’t have to be sophisticated. Some phishing emails or texts might look unprofessional to you, using poor grammar or asking you to click on links with odd-looking URLs.

And they’ll send countless fake email and text messages across the globe in the hope that they’ll trick enough people into surrendering this sensitive information. The ultimate goal no matter which method scammers use? They want your personal information so that they can use it to access your bank accounts or credit cards.
