What Is Phishing?
🔹 Definition:
Phishing is a scam where fraudsters send fake emails, messages, or websites designed to trick people into revealing personal information, like passwords or banking details.
🔹 How It Works:
✔ Scammers pretend to be trusted organizations (banks, government agencies, or even family).
✔ They send emails or texts with urgent messages, such as “Your account has been compromised!”
✔ Clicking their links leads to a fake website that steals your information.
🚫 How to Stay Safe:
- Never click on links from unknown sources—go to the official website directly.
- Banks never ask for sensitive information via email or text.
- Look for spelling mistakes, unusual sender addresses, and urgent requests—these are red flags.
How to Recognize a Scam
Scams come in many forms, but most follow the same patterns. Here are key warning signs:
🔹 Red Flags to Watch For:
✔ Unexpected requests for personal or financial information.
✔ Messages claiming you’ve won money but must pay a fee to receive it.
✔ Scammers pretending to be a family member in trouble and asking for money.
✔ Calls or emails that demand immediate action—real companies won’t rush you.
🚫 How to Stay Safe:
- Always verify messages by calling the organization directly.
- Never send gift cards, wire money, or cryptocurrency to someone you don’t know.
- If an offer sounds too good to be true—it probably is!
Learn More About Protecting Your Personal Information Here:
Safe Browsing Tips
- How to Browse the Internet Safely: 10 Tips
- Safe Browsing: 10 Best Practices to Protect Your Digital Privacy
- 15 Internet Safety Tips and Rules
Protecting Personal Information
- Protect Your Personal Information From Hackers and Scammers
- Cybersecurity 101: How to Protect Your Privacy Online
- Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business
Microlearning Modules
Quiz Yourself!
Follow the link to test your knowledge on scams:
https://phishingquiz.withgoogle.com
How about some more practice? Navigate to our Test Yourself Page:
How well did you do? Here are some more suggested topics to enhance your learning:
- Types of Phishing Attacks – Covers different phishing methods like spear phishing, vishing (voice phishing), and smishing (SMS phishing) .
- How to Identify Phishing Emails – Guides on spotting fake emails, checking sender addresses, and avoiding malicious links .
- Phishing Prevention Tips – Best practices for staying safe online, including using multi-factor authentication and recognizing scam tactics .
- Real-Life Phishing Examples – Case studies and examples of phishing scams to help users recognize patterns .
- Phishing and AI Threats – How artificial intelligence is being used to enhance phishing attacks and security measures against them .