Phishing: Spotting the Trap

That "Account Suspended" text arriving when one is in a rush. That sinking feeling is the scammers' weapon. Not Hollywood hackers, but criminal psychologists.

The goal isn't breaching the PC, but breaching the mind. The lever is urgency. "Do it NOW or lose everything". Real institutions are slow and bureaucratic; they never induce anxiety. If there's rush, it's a scam.

How to Spot Them

Spotting them requires noticing the subtle cracks in the facade. First, check for Suspicious Links—postal-urgent.com is definitely not usps.com. Second, be wary of Data Requests; legitimate banks and institutions will never ask for your passwords or PINs via SMS or email. If they do, they are lying.

Conclusion

The best defense is stillness. At the first sign of anxiety, stop. Don't click. Delete. When in doubt, open the official app. Better slow and safe than fast and scammed.