Phishing Kit Scams

Some people think that phishing scams take a long time to create and launch, but that’s not always the case. Cybercriminals can buy something called a "phishing kit," which contains the resources they need to launch a convincing phishing scam.

What Is a Phishing Kit?

A phishing kit is a set of resources that cybercriminals can use to create convincing phishing attacks. Phishing kits can contain premade phishing emails, web pages, malicious code, graphics, and more. Since the resources are premade, cybercriminals don’t need extensive coding knowledge to launch a phishing attack.

What Makes Phishing Kits So Effective?

Imagine receiving an email that claims your PayPal account has been compromised. If the email only contained text and didn't have a header, images, or a footer, would you think the email was legitimate? You would probably notice these red flags and decide not to trust the email. But what if the email contained the official PayPal logo and a footer with PayPal contact information? What if the link in the email lead to a website that looked like the real PayPal website? With all of these resources to support the email, you may not realize that it’s a phishing attack.

Each resource that supports a phishing email will increase its appearance of legitimacy. High-quality phishing scams typically take attention to detail, skill, and time, but phishing kits make it easy for any cybercriminal to set up a convincing scam in no time.

What Can I Do to Stay Safe?

Don’t fall for phishing kit scams! Follow the tips below to stay safe:

• If you receive an email claiming you have an account issue, always go to the organization’s website directly to log in.
• Never click a link in an email that you weren’t expecting, even if the email includes logos or links that look official. Always think before you click.
• Verify that urgent messages are legitimate before taking action. Contact the person or organization directly by using another line of communication.