12/11/2024

Phishing scams can be hard to spot

FTC

Scammers love a good disguise. One day they show up texting you about a delivery you missed, the next they say you need to sort an issue with your Netflix account. Here’s how to avoid these phishing scams.

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. Maybe it’s an unexpected email or text message pretending to be from a company you know or trust, like a utility company asking you to make a payment. Or maybe it’s an unexpected party invitation that looks like it’s from a friend or family member.

Don’t click on links or download attachments in these messages. It might lead to a request for personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number — and identity theft. Or, the link or attachment could download harmful malware onto your device.