Phishing attacks attempt to financially or informationally defraud an unsuspecting target. 

Cyber criminals invent increasingly sophisticated ways to steal passwords, sensitive information, or infect your computer with malware. Ransomware is often initiated through a phishing.  In addition to email, phishing attacks can be received through texting, social media app messages, phone calls, mailed letters, pop-ups on your computer, etc.  The communications may impersonate known contacts, or be from actual contacts whose account has been compromised.

Types of Phishing Attacks:

• Phishing: Fraudulent communications prompting the recipient to click links, open attachments, reply with information, etc.
• Spear Phishing: Targeted attacks using personal information to appear legitimate.
• Vishing: Attacks via phone call, usually using spoofed phone numbers, pressuring targets to act quickly.
• Whaling: Attacks targeting high-level executives with tailored messages.
• Smishing: Attacks utilizing texting and impersonating a known contact or entity.
• Business Email Compromise (BEC): Attack that impersonating an executive or vendor to authorize fraudulent transactions or data transfers.
• Quishing: Using malicious QR codes that trick recipients into scanning to visit a fraudulent site or download malware.
• Angler Phishing: Anglers use fake social media posts to get people to provide login info or download malware