Phishing, vishing, and smishing
These are three related types of fraud, conducted respectively via email, phone calls, and text messages.
Phishing is when scammers send you emails that contain a link which appears to be from your bank, PayPal, an online retailer such as Amazon, or other legitimate sources, such as HMRC. The message might tell you your account has been compromised or that money has been taken. Clicking on the link will install malware on your device and take you to a fake website which then steals the information you enter.
Vishing is a phone scam. The caller will usually pretend to be from your bank or building society and will try to get you to reveal your account details and passwords. Sometimes the scammers will claim they are from HMRC and offer you a tax refund.
Smishing is a text-message scam. You’ll receive a text claiming to be from your bank or other legitimate source. It may contain a link to a fake website or give you a phone number to call. Again, the aim is to get you to reveal your banking or other security details.