
What is Phishing & How Does it Work?
You can never be too careful when it comes to managing your money. Cybercriminals and digital hackers often use a technique known as “phishing” to get customers like you to turn over their personal data, including PIN numbers, credit and debit cards, bank statements and other financial information. These kinds of cyberattacks can happen to anyone at any time. That’s why it’s important to learn about phishing, so you can protect yourself and your money from online scams.

LESSON CONTENTS
What is Phishing?
Phishing is a type of cybercrime where the hacker or perpetrator sends a message to the consumer, usually in the form of an email, text message or telephone call, posing as a company or institution. There are many different types of phishing attacks to look out for, including fake websites with similar layouts, suspicious emails with multiple email addresses and those urging you to click a link.
Some hackers may claim to be the IRS while others may pose as your local bank or credit union. The message may look official in every way. Hackers might also use a company’s official logo and other symbols to make the customer think that it’s from a trusted source. The message usually features an urgent message asking the person to update their profile, change their password or contact the institution for more information. The message may contain a link or input fields. Once the person clicks on the link and enters their secure login information in the input field, the hacker will gain access to their account. The hacker can then use this information to quickly withdraw money and deplete the account.
Hackers usually target employees and everyday consumers. They may send out thousands of messages to unsuspecting victims at once, waiting for someone to take the bait. This is what’s known as clone phishing or spear phishing.
What to Look for in a Phishing Attack
If you encounter a strange email, voicemail or text message, watch out for these phishing attack warning signs:
Exciting Offers and Deals: Many messages will try to lure in customers by sending them fake offers, discounts, and promotions. This incentivizes the person to click on the link. If the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Urgent Response Needed: Hackers aren’t usually known for their patience. Phishing emails and messages often include a sense of urgency, including the words “immediate” or “emergency.” Some messages may even tell you that your account has been hacked before asking you to quickly update your login information. If it’s truly an emergency, contact the institution directly for more information.
Links and Attachments: Beware of phishing messages and emails that contain links and attachments. If you didn’t request this information or attachment, it’s probably a scam. Avoid clicking on the link or opening the attachment, as it may include malware or a computer virus.
Unusual Sender: Pay attention to who sent the message. If the sender’s email address or phone number doesn’t look familiar, avoid opening the message altogether.
Don’t assume the message is legitimate just because it was sent using an Ent email address or local phone number. Some hackers may disguise themselves as Ent employees or local residents.
What to Do If You Suspect a Phishing Attack
If you receive a strange email, text message or phone call from someone claiming to be a legitimate organization or company, here are steps you should consider:
Start by asking yourself whether you initiated this interaction. Did you request information or some other service from the organization in question? If the answer is no, do not open the message or respond in any way.
You can also try using Google or some other search engine to do some research on your own. Try typing the phone number or the text in the email into the search bar. If it’s a scam, chances are other consumers have reported the attack. When you encounter a suspicious link or email address, try hovering your cursor over the link. You should see a small preview of the website or the person’s contact information without having to click on it. If the preview doesn’t come up, it usually means the website or email address is fake.
Other Cyber Security Tips
There are several things you can do to reduce the risk of phishing attacks, so you don’t fall prey to a scam.
Install spam filters on your email account to protect yourself from fraudulent messages and possible scams. The filter will analyze the message, including the sender, its contents, and how the email was generated to determine if it’s safe to open. Set up spam filters on your internet browser as well. When you click on a fraudulent or suspicious website, the browser will send you to a blank page alerting you that the site may be dangerous. To avoid fake websites, you should only visit and interact with websites with the SSL certificate. Websites with the SSL certificate have a green “HTTPS” URL with a lock symbol. This shows you that the website is safe and secure.
The Ent Promise
It’s also important to partner with a reliable, secure financial institution that has your best interest in mind. The best banks and credit unions use advanced security software to prevent phishing attacks and protect their customers’ financial data.
At Ent Credit Union, we go to great lengths to protect our members from phishing attacks and online scams. We are also here to make sure you have the information you need to protect your money online.
There are some things Ent will never ask you for over email, text or the phone, including your login information, debit and credit cards, social security number, and other sensitive information. If we need to access this information, we will ask you to fill out one of our secure forms either online or in-person.
If you see a message from Ent asking for this information, it’s a scam. Report suspicious messages to our member service representatives to help us find the culprit. We also research the latest phishing scams and attacks to keep our members informed.
Contact us to learn more about what is phishing, so you can manage your money with more peace of mind.
Related Resources
View All
What to Do if You Think Your Elderly Parent Is Being Scammed
Millions of seniors are scammed out of their money every year in the United States. Elderly individuals tend to be more susceptible to financial scams. They also tend to have more assets, including owning a home, financial savings and good credit after a lifetime of work. Older Americans suffering from medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s or dementia may also get confused when managing their money. Others may have trouble using the latest technology, including mobile banking apps, email or the internet. Use this guide to protect your aging relatives from scams targeting seniors.

Top 10 Financial Scams Targeting Retired Adults
Senior citizens and retired adults are often prime targets for digital hackers and con artists looking to defraud those that they consider vulnerable. These criminals often try to take advantage of these individuals costing them their life savings, which can lead to debt and other financial hardships. If you know someone who is retired, learn about the leading scams targeting them and how they can be identified.

Common Scams that Prey on College Students
College students may be vulnerable to online scams and predatory behavior. Many students may be living on their own and managing their money for the first time. They may not be familiar with the warning signs of fraud, which can lead to all kinds of unfortunate outcomes, including identity theft and scam purchases. If you or someone you know is getting ready to go to college, use this guide to help protect yourself from common scams that target college students.

Help I've Been Scammed! What Should I Do Now?
So, you believe you’re the victim of a scam—what do you do now? Online scams are becoming increasingly common as online scammers and hackers look for new ways to trick consumers into handing over their personal information. If you’ve been scammed, you might have noticed an unauthorized transaction posted to your bank account or your funds may be lower than expected. There’s also a chance that you sent your personal information to the wrong person by mistake, including your debit and credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, phone number or email address. If you notice a problem with your account, there are several ways to rectify the situation. Follow these steps to secure your money before the scammer has a chance to make another withdrawal.

Mobile Banking Safety Tips
More people are using mobile banking apps and websites than ever before. Many people prefer to manage their money online using a mobile device rather than visiting a local service center in person. You don’t have to deal with traffic or wait in line to use the ATM. Banking apps are as safe as the financial institutions they represent, but you need to be careful when sending and sharing your information online. Use these safety tips to enjoy the benefits of Ent mobile banking without putting your finances at risk.

How Secure is My Password?
It’s generally recommended that you change your password once every three months or so, but it can be easy to forget or push it off. You may be wondering if it’s really such a big deal? Yes, it is because cybercrime is on the rise. In a 2018 survey of adults, almost 33% said they personally had experienced a hack of their social media and email accounts. This may be because up to 50% of them use the same password for multiple accounts. Read this article to help you secure your passwords and online accounts before you get hacked.

Chip-Enabled Ent Debit Cards: How EMV Technology Keeps You Safe
Today, most debit and credit cards have multiple ways to transmit data and authenticate a payment. One such way is the small, square computer chips you see on the card. This is called an EMV chip and is used to help protect the user from fraud. Read this article to learn more about how EMV chips work and how they help keep your information safe.

Someone Wants to Send You Money? It's Likely a Scam.
So, someone wants to send you money? Maybe someone reached out to you via phone, text or email claiming that you won a prize, they’re going to wire you money or you are the beneficiary for your family members. Everyone wants “free” money, but often these messages or notifications are scams. Learn more about what you can do to protect yourself from these types of scams.

How to Protect Your Identity and Money During Tax Season
It’s tax season in the U.S. You’re likely focused on gathering all the necessary paperwork and submitting your return on time. Meanwhile, in the criminal world, fraudsters are busy executing schemes in an attempt to steal your identity and money. In fact, the Internal Revenue Service identified $2.3 billion in tax fraud in 2020. To help alleviate some stress this tax season, we’ve compiled this guide to help you protect yourself, recognize possible fraud warning signs and take action if you become a victim.

What Is a Phishing Attack? - 5 Ways to Recognize a Phishing Scam
You know scammers are out there, lurking behind friendly, seemingly legitimate emails and text messages. They attempt to get your personal information, often by asking you to click on a link. The link will bring you to a website that looks like a legitimate website, but it only exists solely for fraudulent purposes. Did you know that most phishing scams arrive by email? Just 1% attempt to scam you by phone. How can you recognize a phishing scam so you don’t fall prey to one? There are five common giveaways that an email may not be legitimate.

How Do I Know If I've Been Scammed? Common Red Flags
If you suspect you are being scammed, Ent Credit Union is here to help. Money scams can take many different forms. Criminals may claim to be the government, such as the IRS, or even your local financial institution to con you out of your hard-earned money. There are several ways to find out if you are indeed the victim of a scam. Use this guide to protect yourself from scams online and over the phone.

What is Phishing & How Does it Work?
You can never be too careful when it comes to managing your money. Cybercriminals and digital hackers often use a technique known as “phishing” to get customers like you to turn over their personal data, including PIN numbers, credit and debit cards, bank statements and other financial information. These kinds of cyberattacks can happen to anyone at any time. That’s why it’s important to learn about phishing, so you can protect yourself and your money from online scams.