Top 10 Phishing Scams to Avoid with Email Filters
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Top 10 Phishing Scams to Avoid with Email Filters
Phishing is an attempt to steal sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. With the increasing use of technology, phishing scams have also increased in frequency and severity. Therefore, it is essential to protect yourself from phishing scams with email filters. Here are the top 10 phishing scams to avoid:
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Deceptive Phishing:
This scam involves using a fake website or a cloned website to collect personal information from the victim. For instance, an attacker might create a fake banking website that looks similar to the legitimate one to trick users into entering their sensitive information. Therefore, always check the website’s URL before entering any information and avoid clicking on suspicious links.
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Spear Phishing:
Spear phishing is a targeted attack that involves the attacker pretending to be someone familiar to the victim to obtain sensitive information. For example, an attacker might send an email, pretending to be from the victim’s boss and asking for confidential information. Therefore, always double-check the sender’s email address before responding to any emails.
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Whaling:
Whaling is a type of phishing attack targeting high-profile executives such as CEOs, CFOs, and other senior officers. These attacks often exploit their authority to convince the victim to transfer funds or reveal sensitive information. Therefore, it is essential to confirm any requests for confidential information with the person face-to-face or by phone.
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Clone Phishing:
Clone phishing is a type of attack that involves creating an almost identical copy of a legitimate email to trick the victim into revealing personal information. The attacker will then substitute the original link or attachment with a malicious one, and when the victim opens it, they could install malware on their device unknowingly. Therefore, use anti-malware software and always look for any signs of tampering such as typos and grammatical errors.
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Smishing:
Smishing is a technique that exploits mobile messaging apps such as SMS or WhatsApp to extract sensitive information from the victims. Attackers will send text messages or push notifications that contain malicious links that could install malware when clicked on. Therefore, avoid clicking on suspicious links on your mobile devices.
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Vishing:
Vishing is a type of attack that involves voice calls to trick the victims into giving away sensitive information. Attackers often pretend to be representatives from legitimate organizations such as banks, government, or tech support services. Therefore, avoid giving information over the phone and always confirm the identity of the person calling.
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Pharming:
Pharming is a sophisticated attack that involves changing the domain name system (DNS) settings of a user’s device to redirect them to a phishing site automatically. Attackers can exploit this weakness to steal login credentials or sensitive information from the victim without their knowledge. Therefore, use secure DNS services and install anti-phishing software.
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Tax Phishing:
The tax phishing scam involves sending fake tax return emails to taxpayers, with a promise of a tax refund. The emails often contain a link that leads to a cloned tax site that harvests taxpayers’ personal information. Therefore, always verify with the official tax office before providing any confidential information.
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Gift Card Scams:
Gift card phishing scams are common during the holiday season, and it involves sending an email that promises a gift card with an attractive value, but in exchange for personal information. Attackers will exploit this weakness to steal sensitive information from the victim. Therefore, avoid clicking on suspicious links or suspicious attachments.
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CEO Fraud:
CEO fraud is a type of spear phishing attack that targets businesses and involves an attacker pretending to be a company executive and requesting an employee to transfer funds to a fraudulent account. Therefore, always verify any financial requests with the executive face-to-face or by phone.
FAQs
What is Phishing?
Phishing is an attempt to steal sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.
How do phishing scams occur?
Phishing scams occur through various methods such as emails, text messages, phone calls, and social media platforms.
How to protect yourself from phishing scams?
To protect yourself from phishing scams, use email filters, install anti-phishing software, use secure DNS services, and avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments.
What are the common types of phishing scams?
The common types of phishing scams are deceptive phishing, spear phishing, whaling, clone phishing, smishing, vishing, pharming, tax phishing, gift card scams, and CEO fraud.
What should I do if I become a victim of a phishing scam?
If you become a victim of a phishing scam, change your passwords immediately, contact your bank or credit card company to report the fraud, and install anti-malware software.
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