Spotting Phishing Attempts
Attackers exploit human psychology. Train your family to recognize the signs of manipulation before compromise occurs.
The Evolution of the Scam
Phishing is no longer just email. It encompasses SMS texts ("Smishing"), voice calls ("Vishing"), and direct messages on social platforms. Attackers use AI to craft grammatically perfect, highly targeted messages based on data scraped from the web.
Primary Indicators of Attack
Manufactured Urgency
"Your account will be suspended in 24 hours." "Unauthorized purchase detected." Attackers want you to act fast, overriding critical thinking.
Suspicious Sender Details
Check the actual sender address, not just the display name. `[email protected]` is not `paypal.com`.
Unsolicited Links or Attachments
Never click links in unexpected messages regarding tracking numbers, invoice payments, or account security.
The Verification Protocol
Teach your family the "Zero Trust" response. If a text says there is an issue with a bank account, do not click the link. Open a browser, type the bank's URL manually, log in, and check for alerts there. If the issue is real, it will be in the official portal.