Don't get reeled in by a phishing scam

With the public’s online presence growing since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, phishing scams have become more prevalent and sophisticated. Phishing scams can show up in many different forms including prize offers, text messages or threatening emails. In some cases, the phishing scam may not be digital at all but come in the form of a phone call checking on an account or subscription. 

The goal of any phishing scam is to trick a consumer into giving out personal information. Scammers are usually phishing for bank account, insurance or Social Security numbers to use or sell for financial gain.  

Though phishing may not immediately come to mind when consumers think of cybersecurity, it can have severe consequences if overlooked. It may be one of the oldest tricks in the book, but new variations are always popping up because phishing scams are known to be highly effective. 

Think twice before downloading anything from the internet, especially if it’s an attachment from an anonymous or unknown sender. Scammers can hide malware in an attachment and once downloaded, it can infect your device(s) and network. Even when you're online at home, scammers can steal the IP address and connect to any other device connected to the home Wi-Fi. 

Use BBB’s tips to recognize and avoid phishing scams: 

• Know the red flags. Phishing scammers are great at coming up with new ways to carry out their operations but they tend to follow the same main patterns. They know how to make their scam sound tempting, from the way they speak to the design of the content they send. It’s all created to trick a consumer. This is why it is so important to know the red flags. Unusual formatting, overly explicit calls to click a hyperlink or open an attachment and subject lines that create a sense of urgency are all red flags. This includes texts from legitimate organizations, banks and familiar companies. Don’t take the bait! 

• Verify the source. Scammers are often able to impersonate colleagues, service providers, or even family members and friends. They do this so a consumer feels comfortable responding and giving out information. Don’t fall for it. It’s always a good idea to go straight to the source if anything seems off or if communication from this person came unexpectedly. 

• Be aware of other scams that follow the phishing patterns. Scammers have begun to change up their phishing scams beyond traditional email. Voice phishing — or vishing — has become a new go-to phishing scam. Vishing is usually done by individuals posing — again — as a legitimate organization asking for sensitive information. Be suspicious of any sort of communication that asks for personal information especially if the communication is unexpected. 

• Do not click, download or open anything from an anonymous sender. This could very well be an attempt to gain access to your personal information or install malware on your computer.  

If you spot a scam, whether you've lost money or not, report it to BBB’s Scam Tracker at BBB.org/ScamTracker and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your story can help other consumers avoid similar scams. 

Marjorie Stephens is president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Northern Indiana. Contact the BBB at 800-552-4631 or visit www.bbb.org.