what is a phishing scam

A phishing scam is a type of cybercrime where scammers attempt to deceive individuals into revealing personal and sensitive information such as bank account numbers, passwords, credit card numbers, or other confidential data. The scam typically involves the scammer pretending to be a legitimate entity, such as a bank or a well-known company, often through emails, text messages, phone calls, or social media. These messages usually contain urgent requests or threats urging the victim to provide or confirm personal details, often directing them to fake websites that look authentic but are designed to steal their information. Once the information is given, scammers use it for fraud, identity theft, or other malicious purposes.