Don’t Follow Links in Email or Texts to Help Avoid Phishing Scams

Always Go Directly to Sites Using Your Bookmarks to Help Reduce Phishing Scams on Your Accounts

Phishing scams are a major threat to online security. They involve sending emails that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or credit card company, in order to trick the recipient into clicking on a malicious link. Once the link is clicked, the scammer can steal the recipient’s personal information, such as their login credentials or credit card numbers.

One of the best ways to protect yourself from phishing scams is to never follow links in email. Instead, always go directly to the website you want to visit by typing the URL into your browser or by using your bookmarks.

Here are some reasons why you should never follow links in email:

  • The link may be malicious. Phishing emails often contain links that lead to fake websites that look like the real thing. Once you click on the link, you’ll be asked to enter your personal information, which the scammer can then steal.
  • The link may not go where you think it goes. Even if the link appears to go to a legitimate website, it’s possible that it’s been hijacked by a scammer. This means that when you click on the link, you’ll be taken to a fake website that looks like the real thing.
  • You can’t be sure who sent the email. Phishing emails are often sent from spoofed email addresses, which means that the sender’s email address doesn’t actually belong to the company or organization they’re claiming to be from. This makes it impossible to know for sure who sent the email, and whether or not it’s legitimate.

By following these simple tips, you can help protect yourself from phishing scams and keep your online accounts safe.

Next: Tips for staying safe from phishing scams

See Scam and Fraud Protection for 2023 for more information and make sure to Sign Up for our Scam Prevention Newsletter.

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