Phishing is a type of cybercrime where an attacker poses as a trustworthy entity or person in electronic communication to obtain sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card information, and more. Attackers often use phishing emails to distribute malicious links or attachments that can extract personal information from victims.

To prevent phishing, it is important to never provide personal information in response to unsolicited requests. If you believe the contact may be legitimate, contact the financial institution or company directly to verify the request.

Additionally, it is recommended to use multi-factor authentication and to keep software up to date to protect against phishing attacks.

There are several common signs of a phishing email that can help you identify a potential attack. One of the most common indicators is a request for personal information.  Other signs include generic greetings or lack of greetings, misspellings, unofficial “from” addresses, and poor grammar and spelling.

Additionally, phishing emails may be sent from a public email domain or include suspicious attachments or links.  Unusually-worded subject lines can also be a sign of a phishing email.  It is important to be cautious when receiving emails from unknown senders and to verify the authenticity of any requests for personal information before providing any sensitive data.