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Phishing Scams

Examines the latest phishing scam tactics targeting individuals and organizations through deceptive emails, websites, and messages. Provides real-world examples, red flags to watch for, and actionable steps to avoid falling victim to phishing attacks.

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Phishing Scams

Phishing Scams: What Actually Works to Stop Them

In 2023, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 298,000 complaints about phishing scams — making it the most reported cybercrime category for the fifth consecutive year. The real number is almost certainly higher, because most incidents never get reported. I've spent years helping organizations

Carl B. Johnson Jul 29, 2026 5 min read
Phishing Scams

Phishing Scams: What They Cost and How to Stop Them

The FBI Says Phishing Scams Are the #1 Cybercrime — And It's Not Even Close In 2023, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received over 298,000 complaints about phishing scams — more than any other cybercrime category. That number has topped the charts for five consecutive

Carl B. Johnson Jul 13, 2026 6 min read
Phishing Scams

What Is a Phishing Scam? A Real-World Guide for 2025

In January 2024, a finance employee at British engineering firm Arup transferred $25 million to threat actors after joining a video call with what appeared to be the company's CFO and other colleagues — all of them deepfake recreations. The attack started the way most do: with a phishing

Carl B. Johnson Dec 27, 2025 7 min read
Phishing Scams

Phishing Scams in 2025: What's Actually Working Now

The Phishing Email That Cost One Company $60 Million In January 2024, a finance employee at the engineering firm Arup wired $25 million after attending a video call with what appeared to be the company's CFO and other colleagues. Every person on that call was a deepfake. That

Carl B. Johnson Nov 28, 2025 7 min read
Phishing Scams

What Is a Phishing Scam? A Security Pro's Real Talk

In January 2024, a finance employee at a multinational firm in Hong Kong transferred $25 million after a video call with what appeared to be the company's CFO and several colleagues. Every person on that call was a deepfake. The whole operation started with a single phishing email.

Carl B. Johnson Sep 18, 2024 6 min read
Phishing Scams

Phishing Scams: What Actually Works to Stop Them

In January 2024, a finance worker at engineering firm Arup wired $25 million to criminals after joining a video call with what appeared to be the company's CFO and several colleagues. Every person on that call was a deepfake. The attack started with what every phishing scam starts

Carl B. Johnson Jul 23, 2024 8 min read
Phishing Scams

What Is a Phishing Scam? A Security Pro's Real Guide

In March 2022, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that phishing was the number one cybercrime type in 2021 — with over 323,000 complaints filed by victims in a single year. That number dwarfed every other category. If you've ever asked what is a phishing

Carl B. Johnson Sep 22, 2022 8 min read
Phishing Scams

Phishing Scams: What Actually Works to Stop Them

In March 2022, the threat actor group Lapsus$ breached Okta, Microsoft, and Samsung — not through some sophisticated zero-day exploit, but through phishing scams and social engineering that tricked employees into handing over credentials. A group reportedly led by teenagers compromised some of the largest technology companies on the planet. If

Carl B. Johnson Sep 04, 2022 7 min read
Phishing Scams

What Is a Phishing Scam? Anatomy of the #1 Cyber Threat

In July 2021, a single phishing email gave attackers access to an employee's credentials at a Florida-based managed service provider, ultimately cascading into the massive Kaseya VSA supply-chain ransomware attack that hit over 1,500 businesses worldwide. One email. One click. Billions in damages. If you've

Carl B. Johnson Aug 18, 2021 7 min read
Phishing Scams

Phishing Scams: What's Actually Working in 2021

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported $4.2 billion in losses from cybercrime in 2020 — and phishing scams were the number one reported attack type, with 241,342 complaints. That's not a typo. Nearly a quarter of a million people filed formal complaints about phishing

Carl B. Johnson Jul 13, 2021 7 min read