What Happens When You Are Phished?

What Happens When You Are Phished?

When you are phished, you receive fraudulent messages, often via email, SMS or social media, that appear to be sent from a trustworthy source. Clicking on malicious links in these messages takes you to fake websites that request sensitive information.

Any passwords or credit card numbers that you enter here are harvested by scammers. Identity theft, financial fraud, or account takeovers are just a few examples of what cybercriminals can then do with your data. If you have anti-phishing software, like RedFox Anti-Phishing, on your device, it will warn you about the malicious link automatically.

However, phishing schemes may not always take you to fake websites. Clicking on a phishing link can sometimes set off a malware download that contains malicious files capable of harvesting information stored on your device. Hackers can steal credit card numbers, bank account numbers, usernames and passwords, and other PII.

If you suspect this is happening, close all apps and disconnect your device from the internet. If you use anti-malware software, like RedFox Antivirus & Mobile Security, begin a scan. It can detect and remove various types of malware — including viruses, Trojans, worms, and spyware.