A common phishing scam typically begins with an attacker sending a fraudulent email or message that appears to be from a legitimate source, like a bank or popular online service. The message often contains a sense of urgency, prompting the recipient to click on a malicious link or download an attachment. Once clicked, the victim may be directed to a fake website designed to steal personal information, such as passwords or credit card details. Finally, the attacker may use this stolen information for identity theft or financial fraud.
Notify the proper authorities.
The three main steps of a phishing attack are the bait (the fraudulent message), the hook (the malicious link, attachment, or request), and the capture (stealing the victim’s information). So, anything outside these—such as data encryption or hardware damage—is not one of the three steps of a phishing attack.
Phishing refers to the theft of personal information through the Internet. The most common phishing scams are those which are perpetrated through email. Typically, the email asks the user to enter personal information in exchange for money.
This is fraud and more specifically, identity theft. Many emails spam your inbox trying to pull this same scam.
A phishing scam typically has three main parts: The Bait – A fraudulent message (email, text, call, or social media post) that looks like it comes from a trusted source such as a bank, employer, or service provider. The Hook – A malicious link, attachment, or request designed to trick the victim into taking action, like entering login credentials, downloading malware, or making a payment. The Capture – Once the victim responds, attackers steal sensitive data (passwords, financial details, or personal information) or gain access to systems for further exploitation. Phishing works by combining deception, urgency, and trust to manipulate victims into handing over valuable information.
The hook in a phishing scam is the trick that convinces the victim to act—such as clicking a malicious link, opening an infected attachment, or entering credentials on a fake website. It’s the moment where curiosity, urgency, or fear is exploited to capture sensitive information.
Phishing scams can hook users through trustworthy looking e-mails. Another popular scam is a message from a user on eBay.
Phishing
phishing
A phishing scam is when someone sends an legit looking email in the hope of tricking the user to providing personal information.
Phishing is a portmanteau of "phreaking and fishing". "Phreaking", another kind of scam, is in turn a portmanteau of "phone" and "freaking".
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