Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks every day — and they’re often successful. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that people lost $57 million to phishing schemes in one year.

Phishing emails and text messages may look like they’re from a company you know or trust. They may look like they’re from a bank, credit union, a credit card company, a social networking site, an online payment website or app, or an online store.

Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. Examples may look like these….

• say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts
• ask you to login in or reset your password
• claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information
• say you must confirm some personal information
• want you to click on a link to make a payment
• say you’re eligible to register for a government refund
• offer a coupon for free stuff

What To Do if You Suspect a Phishing Attack:

If you get an email or a text message that asks you to click on a link or open an attachment, answer this question: Do I have an account with the company or know the person that contacted me?

If the answer is “No,” it could be a phishing scam.

The best approach is to ignore and delete the message.

If the answer is “Yes,”

contact the company using a phone number or website you know is accurate, not the information in the email. Attachments and links can install harmful malware.

Derived from www.consumer.ftc.gov