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Phishing Explained
Phishing is a scam where attackers pose as trusted organizations or contacts to deceive you into revealing personal information or money. Scammers often send emails, texts, or make calls that look legitimate, but their goal is to steal data like passwords, account numbers, etc.
Why a Data Breach Increases Phishing Risk: If your personal details were exposed in a breach (for example, your phone number, email, home address, or even specific instructions you gave to a service), scammers can weaponize that information. Here are some ways attackers might exploit the leaked data in phishing schemes:
Tailored Social Engineering: Details like cleaning instructions might seem harmless, but they could be used in social engineering. For instance, a scam text might say “Regarding your recent cleaning request, please confirm your payment info at this link” – referencing your actual cleaning service to appear authentic. Any personal tidbit can be misused: attackers will leverage names of services you use, dates, or instructions you provided to make a phishing message feel “right.” Always remember, just because a message contains some correct personal information doesn’t guarantee it’s legitimate.
Being able to spot a phishing attempt is crucial. Phishing messages often have common telltale signs, even when they are personalized. Below are red flags to watch out for in emails, text messages, and phone calls:
Be skeptical of urgent or threatening emails that demand you “verify your account” or “update payment information immediately.” Phishing emails often pretend to be from a company you know (your bank, a streaming service, etc.) but may have a generic greeting (“Dear Customer,” “Hi Dear,” etc.) instead of your name.
They frequently claim something like “Your account is on hold due to a billing problem” or another issue to create panic. They then urge you to click a link or open an attachment to fix the problem. Misspelled addresses or slight email address tweaks (e.g. support@yourbank-secure.com instead of the official domain) are a big warning sign.
If an email includes an invoice you don’t recognize, an offer that’s too good to be true (like a free gift or refund you weren’t expecting), or asks for sensitive info (passwords, credit card numbers), it’s likely a phishing scam. Legitimate companies will not ask for your password or personal credentials over email, nor will they force you to click a link to resolve an account issue – they’ll usually direct you to log in securely on your own.
Unsolicited texts from unknown numbers that include links or strange requests are often called “smishing” (SMS phishing). Treat these with the same caution as email.
A scam text might say it’s from a service you use, claiming “There’s a problem with your account” or “You’ve won a prize, click here.” Signs of SMS phishing include texts from numbers that aren’t full phone numbers (like 5-digit short codes or email-to-text addresses), badly formatted messages, or any message that asks you to click a link. Never click a suspicious link in a text.
Also, be wary of texts that urge you to call a number to verify something. For example, “Urgent: call this number now to prevent your account from being closed.” These are often scams. In fact, do not call back a number texted to you by an unknown sender – it’s a common trick to lure you in. If the text claims to be from a company, lookup their official customer service line yourself; don’t trust the one in the text.
Scammers might call pretending to be from a government agency (IRS, Social Security), your bank, or a company from the recent breach.
Red flags on calls include aggressive threats or pressure (“Pay now or you will be arrested,” or “Act immediately to fix your account!”), requests for sensitive info over the phone, or even strange demands like buying gift cards for payment.
Remember that caller ID can be faked – your phone might say “IRS” or show a local-looking number, but it could be a spoofed ID. Don’t trust that the call is really from the displayed source.
No legitimate organization calls out of the blue demanding your password, one-time PIN, or Social Security number. If a caller knows some details about you (like your address from the breach) but then starts asking for things like financial info or verification codes, that’s a huge warning sign. When in doubt, hang up.
You can always call back the organization using an official phone number you find independently.
Example of a phishing email impersonating Netflix. The email claims “Your account is on hold” and urges the recipient to “Please update your payment details.” It uses the Netflix logo and a legitimate-looking format to appear authentic. However, it greets the user as “Hi Dear” (generic greeting) and pressures them to click an “Update Account Now” button – both classic phishing red flags. In reality, Netflix (or any reputable company) wouldn’t ask for sensitive billing info via an email link like this.
If you suspect that an email, text, or call is a phishing attempt, do not engage with it on its terms. Use the following steps to handle the situation safely:
On email, you can mark the email as spam or phishing (this helps your email provider filter such emails in the future).
On your phone, block the number that called or texted you. Also consider reporting the incident to authorities, as this helps fight the scammers. You can forward phishing emails to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org, and forward phishing texts on your cell phone to 7726 (which spells “SPAM”). Reporting texts to 7726 notifies your carrier about the scam message. You can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Reporting is important – even if it feels like a small thing – because it can help authorities shut down scam operations or warn others. After reporting, delete the suspicious email or text. If the phish pretended to be from a specific company (like your bank), you might also inform that company so they’re aware scammers are impersonating them.
Mistakes happen, and scammers are crafty. If you realize that you clicked on a phishing link or gave away sensitive information, don’t panic – but do act quickly. Taking the right steps immediately can contain the damage:
If you clicked a suspicious link or opened an attachment, stop using the affected device (computer or phone) for any further sensitive transactions until you secure it. Run an update of your security software, then do a full system scan for viruses/malware.
Many phishing links will try to install malware (like spyware or ransomware). A thorough scan can detect and remove these. If malware is found, follow your antivirus instructions to remove it.
Consider using a second opinion malware scanner as well. Only once you’re sure your device is clean should you resume normal use. (Using a different, uncompromised device to change passwords, as described next, is a good idea if possible.)
Immediately change any passwords or PINs that you shared or that might have been compromised.
Start with your email password if that was involved, since email accounts are often a gateway to reset other passwords. Then change the password of any account that you suspect was targeted (for example, if you clicked a fake bank login, change your bank password ASAP).
Use a strong, unique password that the scammer couldn’t guess. If you used the same password anywhere else (a common but risky practice), change it on those services too – scammers try stolen passwords on other sites.
The sooner you reset credentials, the more you cut off the scammer’s access. Also, enable 2FA on those accounts if not already on, to prevent the attacker from logging in without that second factor.
If you accidentally gave out any financial information (like credit card numbers, bank account info, or payment app credentials), treat it as an emergency. Call your bank or credit card company immediately and explain the situation. They can help secure your accounts – for instance, they might freeze your card and issue a new one before any fraudulent charges occur.
After a phishing incident, closely monitor your financial accounts and statements for the next several months. Look for any charges or transactions you don’t recognize – no matter how small – and report them to your bank immediately if you see any.
Scammers sometimes test with a small charge before bigger thefts. Also watch your email and other accounts for signs of unauthorized access (like password reset emails you didn’t initiate).
In addition, report the phishing crime to the authorities. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at identitytheft.gov or reportfraud.ftc.gov, and if money was stolen, you may also file a report with your local police. While law enforcement may not always catch the individual scammer, having an official report can help with insurance or bank investigations and can contribute to larger efforts to shut down scam rings.
By following this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to identify phishing scams, shut them down safely, and protect yourself from future attempts. In the aftermath of a data breach, staying vigilant is key. Scammers might have some of your info, but with the right precautions, you can ensure they don’t get the most important thing – your trust. Stay alert, and you’ll stay safe!
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