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Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Phishing Scams

Test – and boost – your knowledge on outsmarting cybercriminals

McAfee

(Paid Content)

6 Questions

65b0368d-5cfb-4857-9108-a175c8b3bcb8

Con artists are going phishing in greater and greater numbers with online scams that trick you into providing personal information, including passwords, financial account information, and Social Security numbers. With that information, fraudsters can steal your identity – and your money.

Seniors are hit especially hard by these phishing attacks. According to the Federal Trade Commission, older Americans lost more than $1.6 billion in 2022 to scammers posing as trusted companies, financial institutions, and government agencies.

Fortunately, many of these scams are easy to spot. A little knowledge can go a long way in protecting yourself and your parents against phishing attacks.

Answer the questions in the quiz below to test how savvy you are about cybercriminals.

Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Phishing Scams

[ {
  "question" : "A bank where you used to have an account sends you an email asking you to click on a link to go to its website and check your current balance. Would you:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Click the link to find out how much money you have left in the account.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Avoid clicking the link and call the bank to see if that account is still active.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "In imposter scams, fraudsters masquerade as legitimate businesses – such as your bank or credit card company – to gain access to sensitive information.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "You’re shopping for a tennis bracelet for your daughter. The search results or your social media feed advertise a designer diamond-studded beauty at a super low price if you act today. Would you:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Comparison shop on the websites of multiple trusted retailers to determine if the deal is too good to be true.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Scoop up the bracelet before it sells out.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Online shopping scams lead victims to bogus websites that pretend to sell luxury or hard-to-find goods at bargain-basement prices. However, once the scammers receive your payment, they’ll either deliver low-quality knockoff versions or no goods at all.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "It’s your lucky day! You receive an email stating you’ve won a sweepstakes you don’t even remember entering. You just need to click on a link to claim the prize. Would you:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Click that lucky link immediately.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Be very wary and, if in doubt, tell trusted family members or friends about the email before responding.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Every year victims lose tens of millions of dollars to sweepstakes and lottery scams. Con artists may ask you to pay a fee, taxes, or customs charges to collect your prize. Or, they may request your bank account information so the prize money can be wired to you.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "A ping alerts you to an incoming email, text, or direct message from a well-known delivery carrier. The message says a package is on its way to you, but your delivery information is incomplete. You’re asked to click on a tracking link to update your info. Would you:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Provide the info requested immediately so the package isn’t returned to the sender.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Contact the delivery carrier directly through its website or verified phone number to confirm the request is legitimate.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "These phishing attacks sound urgent, so they can be difficult to ignore. But they’re ruses. They may lead you to a phony login page that prompts you to provide personal information or installs malware or spyware that will steal your passwords or other information.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "The IRS has sent you a message informing you that you owe back taxes and that the agency will refer your case to law enforcement unless you pay immediately. Would you:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Click on the link that’s provided and follow the instructions on how to pay for the taxes you owe.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Don’t click on any links or open any attachments. Forward the email to phishing@irs.gov. Then, delete the original message.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The IRS makes it clear on its website that they never contact taxpayers by email, text messages, or social media to request personal or financial information. But scammers impersonating the IRS can infect your computer or mobile phone with malware when you open the attachments they’ve sent. Or, they may ask for personal and financial information that will allow them to steal your identity.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Chats with your mom reveal she’s spending a lot more time on social media than she has in the past. Do you:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Let it be. You’re happy your mother has found a new way to stay engaged with friends and interact with the world.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Have a meaningful conversation with your mother about phishing scams and how she can and should protect herself.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Social media is an easy and accessible way for seniors to keep up with friends and current events – not to mention enjoy a never-ending stream of amusing dog and cat videos. But scammers target older adults, especially those who may be lonely and vulnerable. So it’s essential to make sure your mom is alert to suspicious overtures and that she knows not to share any personal information without checking with you first.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Phishing Scams

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Cyber scams can pose a significant risk to older adults. However, a little bit of knowledge and a lot of skepticism can help you and your parents avoid becoming the victims of phishing scams. Comprehensive online protection software is another way to stay safer online. McAfee’s newest plans, including McAfee+ Advanced and Ultimate products, deliver all-in-one security, identity protection, and privacy service across activities, devices, and locations. And McAfee+ Family plans protect up to six people, so you can add a parent or another family member to your plan.

Learn more about how you and your loved ones can stay safer online with McAfee+ Family plans.

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