In the News
Phishing attempts continue to plague unsuspecting individuals globally. In World Cup, Vacation Scams Lead in Phishing Trips This Summer, Tara Seals discusses new trends in phishing attempts, which tend to increase during summer months. Seals gives examples of recent phishing attempts including a texting related phishing attempt through Booking.com, a Facebook ad promising a giveaway through Alaska Airlines, and messages offering free tickets or trips to the upcoming World Cup.
Our Take
The promise of free goods or services sounds tempting to everyone, especially Internet denizens who are accustomed to a world driven by provocative headlines and other bait that encourages less thought and more clicks. This is especially true when ads claim to be from well-known companies and use familiar logos or URLs. While some companies do have promotional giveaways, many seemingly credible ads and messages do not come from the host company they claim, and are instead designed to steal victim’s personal and financial information. Such phishing attempts may put personal or financial information at risk either by asking directly for the information or by gaining unauthorized access to accounts that store it.
Recommendations
So how can you protect your personal information and security?
- Think before you click: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
- Always confirm promotions by visiting the host company site directly–don’t click links in suspicious messages