Hooked on Lies

How easy is it to get hooked on a bunch of lies?

Before this class, I thought phishing consisted of obvious scams that only gullible people fall for. Truly, I didn't even think many phishing attempts were even successful. After our class discussion, I realized how strategic and personal these scams have become. The truth is, it is easy for anyone, including me, to be tricked if we’re not paying attention.

Phishing is when scammers impersonate a trusted source (like your bank or a company you use) to get you to share personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or Social Security information. Sounds easy to catch, right? Well, sometimes it is so unobvious, with the only difference being a missing letter in the URL. One of the articles we read explained how these scams often rely on urgent language, such as “your account will be locked," to get people to act out of panic before even thinking. I found it interesting that phishing isn’t just through email anymore; it happens through texts, social media messages, and even phone calls.

When I thought that was scary enough, our next topic was spear phishing, which is even more targeted (what?!). Instead of developing a generic phishing message to all users of a website or platform, spear phishers do their homework. They use personal information from social media or public records to make their scams sound credible and meant for the person it is sent to. That honestly scared me a bit. If someone knows where I go to school, what I study, or where I intern, they could craft a message that seems completely real. Without this discussion, I honestly probably would have fallen right into the trap. 

Don't worry, though, it gets even scarier! How? Catphishing. I had only heard the term sarcastically, but in reality, it can be a manipulative tactic used online. It involves creating a fake identity to deceive people emotionally, financially, or both. Catfishers build entire fake lives, complete with stolen photos and fabricated backstories. It was shocking to see how much time people dedicate to deceiving others. We had a deep discussion in class about how their motivations can be financial, desire for control, or, sadly, emotional. What really struck me is that these scams prey on trust and vulnerability, making them psychological as much as they are technological.

This lesson made me rethink how much personal information I share online and how I respond to unexpected messages. It is easy to hear these stories and think, "This would never happen to me,"  but I bet that is what these victims originally thought as well. From now on, I plan to slow down before clicking links, looking out for use of urgent language and other tactics used by scammers. I also want to ensure all of my accounts are private, as it scares me that a public account means anyone has access to my information and can use it against me. 

How easy is it to get hooked on a bunch of lies? 

Well, shockingly easy if you don't educate yourself.