Phishing is a technique used by online perpetrators and thieves to trick a user into giving up their personal information through some kind of fake website, email, or program.

Generally, these phishing attempts mimic trusted sites to seem real, and then ask for information a trusted website would usually ask its users for. To prevent falling victim to one of these scams, there are a few rules of thumb to always follow. First, if some kind of offer seems too good to be true, it probably is, and is only an attempt to force you to compromise your personal information. Second, always remain skeptical of any suspicious emails you receive or websites you visit. If you experience anything odd or out of the ordinary, there is a good chance the website/email is bogus.  By following these simple practices and always being an informed user, phishing attempts can be easily avoided.