Mainstream Phishing

You probably heard about all of the different phishing attacks around the election. In one scam, voters were promised cash for voting for Obama if they provided their banking details. It was (of course) a scam that had nothing to do with Obama, but people were taken by it.

The latest iteration of phishing scams seems to be mainstream. One scam in which McDonald's customers are targeted by phishers requests that users fill out a survey and then provide banking information for payment. In other words, "please provide all the details we need to steal your identity and drain your bank account." Ouch.

The best way to protect yourself from these mainstream phishing schemes is to remember two things: if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is. And if someone wants you to provide private details about your life and your finances, they're probably up to no good. Go against everything you were taught as a child and don't share. At least not your private information.