Receiving fake messages with the explicit purpose of stealing your personal information or gain access to your accounts is one of the most common cybercrimes, with over 240 thousand reports in 2020. If you receive a message with a generic greeting like “Dear user”, they most likely do not have a real association with you. A clear red flag would be typos, as professional emails should be clearly written without misspellings. Never open attachments unless you’re absolutely sure it’s legitimate. Attachments can include viruses that automatically install upon opening. Phishing messages will also sound urgent or pressure you to act fast. Some common phrases include “Your account is about to be suspended,” “Your account is locked,” and “We’ve received multiple failed login attempts to your account” to make you panic. Phishing messages will provide links to fake websites that further harvest your personal information. These websites will look legitimate and ask for things like your name, address, and credit card numbers. Never provide personal information via email, text, or phone call.
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