There are those who fish and those who are phished.

Like a skilled angler who drops a worm in a shady spot by the riverbank, a phishing scammer’s primary goal is to bait you. If you don’t see the hook, it could be trouble. If you want to keep your head above water and avoid becoming ensnared, read the following.

Phishing scams are a serious problem, and they’re only getting worse. In 2018, there were more than 1.2 billion phishing attempts worldwide, which is expected to increase to over 6 billion by 2022. Even more alarming is that these scams are becoming more sophisticated, making it harder for people to tell when they’re being targeted. One recent study found that nearly 30% of phishing emails are now able to bypass traditional security measures. This means that billions of people are at risk of falling victim to phishing attempts in the next few years. If you’re not careful, you could be one of them.

So, what can you do to protect yourself? The best defense against phishing is knowledge. Understanding how scams work and what to look for can help you avoid being a victim. But ultimately, the best way to protect yourself is to stay informed and be vigilant.

How do they access your information, and what scams are used?

Phishing scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to trick people into giving them their personal information. One of the most common techniques is to send an email that appears to be from a legitimate company or organization. The email may ask you to update your account information or confirm a purchase, and it will often include a link to a fake website. When you enter your information on the website, the scammer can then use it to steal your identity or make fraudulent charges.

Phishing scammers also use social media and text messages to reach their victims. They may pose as a friend or acquaintance and even use threats or intimidation to get what they want.

In recent years, there has been a surge in phone scams, with fraudsters using sophisticated techniques to trick people out of their hard-earned money. These scammers know the exact tone of voice and the type of aggressive tactics to use in order to lure you into their trap. Sometimes, these scams can be quite convincing, especially if the caller has some personal information about the victim.

How can you protect yourself? Stay informed, and knowledge is your protection!

These days, it seems like there’s a new scam around every corner. From fake charities to identity theft, criminals are always coming up with new ways to take advantage of unsuspecting people. It’s important to make sure your software is up to date on the latest scams, and most companies will do this for you.

By taking some simple precautions, you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud. One is to protect yourself is to sign up for alerts from your local police department or the FBI. Another is to check out websites like ScamTracker, which collects reports of scams from around the country.

If you receive a suspicious email, call, text or social media message, do not respond and do not click on any links. Instead, contact the company or person directly to verify the request.

Lastly, if you receive suspicious communications, report it to the FTC’s fraud department at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/.

Lyle Boss is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management. Boss Financial, 955 Chambers St., Suite 250, Ogden, UT 84403. Telephone: 801-475-9400.

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