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With spring just around the corner, many of us are contemplating when it will be warm enough to go fishing. But be aware that a dangerous form of bait lurks on the Internet waiting to hook you. This type of fishing is known as phishing, and the Internal Revenue Service reports that fraudulent phishing attacks are at an all-time high this year.
The term phishing is a combination of the words “fishing” and “phreaks.” Phreaks were early computer users who also dabbled in hacking. Later, malicious computer hackers began using their skills to hook unsuspecting Internet users with deceptive emails.
Phishers create emails that mimic those from well-known companies. More than half of all phishing emails impersonate a financial institution, such as a bank or credit card company.
A phishing email has many defining characteristics. First, the email looks like it is legitimate; it often includes official logos and links to what appear to be legitimate websites.
Second, the email presents upsetting, but false, information. For example, it may indicate your bank account is overdrawn or is about to be closed, your email account is has exceeded its quota or your credit card has been compromised.
Third, the email will encourage you to act on the information immediately. The suggested action is usually to click on a link to a website that asks you to enter personal information, such as your username, password, social security number, passport number or mother’s maiden name. The website is a bogus website created by the phisher to mimic the legitimate website. Often, there is only a letter or domain name (.com, .net or .org) that differs.
Often, on social media sites, such as Facebook, the phisher will use a video link or pictures to lure the unsuspecting target. The phishing lure looks like a message from someone you already know and says something like, “Did you see yourself in these pics?” or, “Look at this video of you at the beach!”
Phishers have discovered that savvy users are much more likely to click on a picture or video in Facebook than to reply to an email.