🎣 Phishing, pronounced “fishing”, is a technique used by scammers to trick people into taking certain actions.
This could mean tricking you into:
- clicking a link in an email
- opening a dodgy attachment
- visiting a scam website designed to look exactly the same as the real one
- providing your personal information by replying to the email or by submitting it to the scam website
🎣 Phishing scams usually impersonate well-known brands, people you know and trust, or authority figures. This makes you more likely to fall for the scam. They can also include a sense of fear or urgency to encourage you to take quick action. Often phishing emails can include an offer of a prize or a discount too.
🎣 You can also see phishing on messaging apps, text messages, social media, online marketplaces and selling platforms.
If you’re suspicious of a message:
- Never click on a link in a message you weren’t expecting.
- Never click on a link in a message from a sender you don’t know.
- Call the person or company directly using legitimate contact details (not those inside the message) to double-check before clicking links, replying or providing information.
- Take your time. Don’t rush to react because the sender says it’s important, urgent, or a limited-time offer.
- Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Ask a friend or family member for advice.
🚨 Report scam texts by forwarding them to 7726
🚨 Report scam emails by forwarding them to report@phishing.gov.uk
How many phishing scams do you see per week? Comment below 👇🏼