Unlike general phishing scams that cast a wide net, spear phishing is a targeted attack aimed at specific individuals or organizations. These scams often appear highly personalized – using your name, job title, or even referencing colleagues or recent events – to trick you into clicking a malicious link, opening an infected attachment, or sharing sensitive information.
Spear phishing emails can look incredibly convincing, sometimes mimicking real messages from trusted sources like banks, coworkers, or service providers.
Protect yourself by:
- Double-checking the sender’s email address.
- Hovering over links to verify their true destination.
- Never sharing personal or financial information via email.
- Reporting suspicious emails to your IT department or service provider.
Stay alert and cautious, because when it comes to fraud, knowledge is your first line of defense.