--- title: "Beware Of Phishing Scams, You Could End Up Compromising Your Vital Data | Phish Protection" description: "Beware Of Phishing Scams, You Could End Up Compromising Your Vital Data: Every day, we see phishing scams happening around us . We read in the newspapers." image: "https://phishprotection.com/og/blog/beware-of-phishing-scams-you-could-end-up-compromising-your-vital-data.png" canonical: "https://phishprotection.com/blog/beware-of-phishing-scams-you-could-end-up-compromising-your-vital-data/" --- Quick Answer As the name suggests, \_the phishing scams start with the recipient receiving a seemingly innocuous email message\_. Usually, such emails have catchy subject lines that entice people to venture inside and read the contents. For example, have a look at the recent \[NAB (National Australia Bank) phishing email scam message\](https://www.mailguard.com.au/blog/watch-phishing-email-spoofing-nab-attempts-to-harvest-users-confidential-data). Share [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fphishprotection.com%2Fblog%2Fbeware-of-phishing-scams-you-could-end-up-compromising-your-vital-data%2F "Share on LinkedIn") [ ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Beware%20Of%20Phishing%20Scams%2C%20You%20Could%20End%20Up%20Compromising%20Your%20Vital%20Data&url=https%3A%2F%2Fphishprotection.com%2Fblog%2Fbeware-of-phishing-scams-you-could-end-up-compromising-your-vital-data%2F "Share on X/Twitter") [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fphishprotection.com%2Fblog%2Fbeware-of-phishing-scams-you-could-end-up-compromising-your-vital-data%2F "Share on Facebook") [ ](https://reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fphishprotection.com%2Fblog%2Fbeware-of-phishing-scams-you-could-end-up-compromising-your-vital-data%2F&title=Beware%20Of%20Phishing%20Scams%2C%20You%20Could%20End%20Up%20Compromising%20Your%20Vital%20Data "Share on Reddit") [ ](mailto:?subject=Beware%20Of%20Phishing%20Scams%2C%20You%20Could%20End%20Up%20Compromising%20Your%20Vital%20Data&body=Check out this article: https%3A%2F%2Fphishprotection.com%2Fblog%2Fbeware-of-phishing-scams-you-could-end-up-compromising-your-vital-data%2F "Share via Email") ![Phish Protection blog post image](https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/2020/10/phishing-prevention-tips-7807-1.jpg) _Every day, we see phishing scams happening around us_. We read in the newspapers and on the internet that people have lost their hard-earned money to cybercriminals. What are these **phishing scams**, and how do they play out? What is the general modus operandi of these hackers? _How do we identify a phishing scam email_? What precautions can we take to ensure that we do not become victims of such scams? All these questions require answering. Let us discuss phishing scams in detail. ### What Is A Phishing Scam? As the name suggests, _the phishing scams start with the recipient receiving a seemingly innocuous email message_. Usually, such emails have catchy subject lines that entice people to venture inside and read the contents. For example, have a look at the recent [NAB (National Australia Bank) phishing email scam message](https://www.mailguard.com.au/blog/watch-phishing-email-spoofing-nab-attempts-to-harvest-users-confidential-data). Many customers of National Australia Bank receive email messages stating that they have thrice in a row entered their password incorrectly. The emails claim that, as a result, the bank security team has to suspend their accounts and put the funds available there on hold. _Customers are asked to verify their information following which the bank will release their funds_. The message goes on to state that customers can go to any of the bank branches to rectify the matter. As an alternative, the email contains an activation link that can allegedly help customers to settle the issue immediately. On the face of it, the email message appears genuine. Customers can feel perturbed if they learn that their funds have been blocked. Therefore, a significant proportion of people would go on to **click on the link** to try to sort out the matter. _The actual issue for worry starts with this action_. The link takes them to a second page where the customers have to enter their NAB login ID and passwords. This page asks the customers to verify their details, following which the customers get access to the genuine webpage of their NAB account. ![Phishing prevention tips 7807](https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/2020/10/phishing-prevention-tips-7807-1.jpg) ### The Consequences Of The Scam - _Cybercriminals get personal information of the customers on a platter_. The customers themselves have unwittingly disclosed it to them. What **prevents the hacker** from playing havoc with your account now? - The second variation of the phishing scam advises recipients of the arrival of an ‘Osko’ deposit. _It encourages customers to click on an activation link that would enable them to view transaction history_. The link takes users to a look-alike page where they have to enter their NAB IDs and passwords. After entry of this data, the phishers redirect customers to the official NAB website. However, the attackers are by now already in possession of what they’re after, the ID and password. ### The Outcome Of The Scam _Customers part with confidential information on their own accord, without a hint of suspicion that something is amiss_. In the meanwhile, the cybercriminals have the requisite knowledge that they can use to clean up the account in no time. ### The Warning Signals _One must admit that cybercriminals are an intelligent lot_. They understand human nature and the weaknesses of people beautifully. However, they also do make mistakes frequently. A trained eye can spot these errors and help [prevent phishing](/) scams. Let us now study some of the warning signals that people should have noticed. - _Notice that the email begins with the words, ‘Dear Customer._’ It should set the bells ringing in your mind. Why would the bank address you as ‘Dear Customer’ when they have access to your name? - Secondly, if the customer had entered the wrong password thrice, the login would have been inactivated immediately. _No bank sends a message about the login deactivation_. The customer has to contact the bank to rectify matters. - Where is the need to block the funds in the case of deactivation of the login ID/user account? - The **phishing email** asks the customer to approach the bank branch to release the hold. Under such circumstances, _there is no need for sending an activation link_. - _The presence of the activation link is the most significant warning signal_. As long as the customer does **not click on this link**, nothing untoward happens. However, the message is so enticing that it forces customers to click on the link. Here, the cybercriminals play on the customer’s eagerness to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. - The next page is where the customer parts with the information unsuspectingly for the hacker to gain control. - Usually, you find such messages on a Friday evening. The banks close for a couple of days during the weekend. Hence, people invariably try to resolve things on their own and **end up clicking** on the activation link. - The second phishing scam example is a dead giveaway. _The grammatical errors in the body of the message should have been enough to make recipients keep their guard up_. However, many of them click on the link that purportedly allows them to view transaction history. The link directs the customer to a webpage where they part with their login IDs and passwords. On receiving this information, it leads the customer to their official account page only to find that there is no Osko credit at all. By this time, the customer has already parted with the confidential information. These [phishing prevention tips](/content/phishing-prevention/) help you to identify a phishing email attempt. Learn to identify them, and you will avoid losing money to phishing scams. ![Phishing attack prevention](https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/2020/10/phishing-attack-prevention-7808.jpg) ### More Precautions To Take To Avoid Phishing Scams - Never click on any link that takes you to a bank website. _Develop the habit of typing out the bank’s website address on the address bar._ In this way, you will never be directed to a **phishing site**. - _Banks never seek information from you_, such as login details and passwords. - _Banks may block your card, but not the funds in the account_, with three unsuccessful login attempts. - Banks usually inform customers through emails and SMS about any receipt of funds into the account. _Falling prey to phishing scams can end up with customers parting with vital details_. These details can help hackers gain access to your bank account and steal your money. The internet has made things easy for everyone, for you as well as for people with malicious intent. One should be aware of the modus operandi of such phishing scams. With [phishing prevention best practices](/resources/phishing-prevention-best-practices/) and exercising a little care before parting with confidential information can help you save your hard-earned money. ## Topics [ Phishing Awareness ](/tags/phishing-awareness/) ![Brad Slavin](https://media.mailhop.org/phishprotection/images/authors/brad-slavin.jpg) [ Brad Slavin ](/authors/brad-slavin/) General Manager Founder and General Manager of DuoCircle. Product strategy and commercial lead across DuoCircle's 2,000+ customer base. [LinkedIn Profile →](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradslavin) ## Protect your inbox from phishing attacks Real-time email security with 60-day free trial. No credit card required. [Start Free Trial](https://portal.duocircle.com/cart.php?a=add&pid=101&brand=phishprotection) [View Pricing](/pricing/) ## Related Articles [ Foundational 5m 0ktapus, Okta Breach Helps Attackers Launch Sophisticated Supply Chain Attacks Sep 5, 2022 ](/blog/0ktapus-okta-breach-helps-attackers-launch-sophisticated-supply-chain-attacks/)[ Foundational 14m 12 Real-World Spear Phishing Examples And The Red Flags You Missed Feb 4, 2026 ](/blog/12-real-world-spear-phishing-examples-and-the-red-flags-you-missed/)[ Foundational 2m 8 million Android users fell prey to SpyLoan malware on Google Play Store Dec 5, 2024 ](/blog/8-million-android-users-fell-prey-to-spyloan-malware-on-google-play-store/)[ Foundational 1m A Big Part of the Phishing Problem is You Sep 17, 2019 ](/blog/a-big-part-of-the-phishing-problem-is-you/) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://phishprotection.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://phishprotection.com/images/phishprotection-logo.png"},"description":"Advanced phishing protection and email security for businesses. 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