Phishing

What is Phishing?

The FTC describes it this way: scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal and financial information. Warning signs it lists include a claim of suspicious activity or a problem with your account, a request to confirm personal details, an invoice you do not recognize, and a generic greeting with a link to update payment details. The sender's name can be faked, and the link text may not match where it goes.

The same tricks arrive by phone calls and texts too.

Some messages claim to come from the internet provider itself, with a threat to cut service unless you act now. Real notices do not ask for passwords by message.

Why does it matter on a fixed wireless connection?

Internet customers see fake messages about service, billing and domain renewals. The guide spotting phishing from your provider applies this to the case, and fake domain renewal notices covers a common one. High Desert's bill-pay link and webmail link are on this site, and the safest habit is to start there rather than from a link in a message.

The company's phone numbers are on the contact page.

What should I do about it?

Do not click. Check the sender, and if you have an account, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real, as the FTC advises. If you responded or clicked, the FTC says to update your security software and run a scan, and to go to IdentityTheft.gov if you shared sensitive information.

Report phishing emails to reportphishing@apwg.org and texts by forwarding to 7726, and report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Read clicked a phishing link, what now.