Who becomes an ideal phishing bait? Practically everyone, especially if you aren’t really careful with who or what you’re dealing with.

The term “phishing” has been around for a considerable amount of time in the World Wide Web. Hackers and scammers will utilize the Internet in order to gather valuable personal information that will surely break your bank and empty your wallet faster than you could possibly imagine. What they do is they send you a fake e-mail where they’ll request you to click on a specific link. This is to supposedly allow you to confirm any personal information.

Upon clicking on the link, you will be brought to a fake website (which, surprisingly, looks like the real one, with very minor differences). Once you supply basic essential details like your bank account number, Social Security number, and credit card number, they’re going to store in their database. Before you know it, someone will be using your details to make extravagant purchases, apply for loans and mortgages, or, worse, harm other people.

Indeed, it does sound like you’re dealing with professional con artist. The truth is you are. However, it doesn’t mean you’ll remain like a helpless puppy in the gutter or a damsel in distress. Here are ways to evade them before they even get to you:

1. Properly scrutinize e-mails that you receive, especially those coming from unknown or suspicious sources.  Majority of phishers pose themselves as lending institutions or credit card companies. You better start reading beginning from the To line until the footer. You can’t rely on the From line alone. After all, this is very easy to copy.

2. They sound too generic. Legal companies should have a database of your personal information. If they want to contact you about something, they must be able to state your name, your own account number or ID, as well as the reason for contacting you, such as billing or technical problem.

Fake ones sound generic, as if they don’t know you at all and so opted to address it to almost everyone. If you receive something like this, then you’re already forewarned.

3. There’s too much threat. Don’t underestimate businesses. Even credit card companies can give you enough leeway to settle your debts. They are very much open for any form of compromise.

Because phishers are so much after your money, they can scare you to death. You may be threatened to a suspended or closed account, unless you can verify personal details. This is to prevent you from having sufficient time to even think about the e-mail.

Phishing e-mails are highly rampant. If you’re not apprehensive with every e-mail you get, then you better kiss goodbye to your money you’ve worked hard for all these years. Your best form of defense is to only read e-mails from your friends, family members, or from well-trusted sources. You shouldn’t open attachments either. They may be viruses that will search for any information you stored in your computer—which is actually very scary. Outsmart them, all right? Don’t give them the satisfaction.