Spoofing Attacks That Target You Every Day

What Is Spoofing?

Spoofing is a type of fraud where scammers disguise communications to appear as if they're from a trusted source, such as your bank or credit union. The goal is to trick you into sharing sensitive information—like account numbers, passwords, or money—with the scammer.

For example, a scammer may call you pretending to be from your credit card company and convince you to share your account details. Because the call appears legitimate, many victims don't realize they've been scammed until it's too late.

Types of Spoofing Scams

Cybercriminals use several methods to execute spoofing attacks. Here are the most common types:

1. Email Spoofing

In email spoofing, attackers send messages that appear to be from a known or trusted source. These emails typically contain links to malicious websites or attachments that infect your device with malware.

2. Caller ID Spoofing

With caller ID spoofing, scammers make phone calls that appear to be from a trusted number—often your bank or credit union. Believing they're speaking with a legitimate representative, victims disclose account information and passwords without hesitation.

3. IP Spoofing

IP spoofing occurs when attackers send messages using a fake IP address that appears to be from a trusted source within your computer network, allowing them to gain unauthorized system access.

4. Website Spoofing

In website spoofing, scammers create fake websites that look identical to legitimate sites you trust. When you enter your login credentials on these fake sites, attackers capture your username, password, and personal information.

5. Text Message Spoofing (Smishing)

Also known as smishing, this scam involves texts that appear to be from trusted sources such as your financial institution, employer, or doctor's office. These messages often contain links to malicious websites.

6. Facial Spoofing

In facial spoofing, scammers use photos or videos of a victim's face to bypass facial recognition security. This allows them to unlock accounts protected by biometric authentication.

Deepfakes and Spoofing

Deepfakes are fake images, videos, or audio clips edited to appear authentic—and they're becoming a dangerous tool for scammers.

For example, a scammer might create a deepfake video of a celebrity appearing to endorse a product or asking you to click a link. These fakes can be highly convincing and difficult to identify without careful examination.

How to Protect Yourself from Spoofing Scams

Follow these steps to protect yourself from spoofing attacks:

• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) and biometric logins whenever possible
• Use strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts
• Turn on email spam filters and mark suspicious emails as spam
• Keep your devices updated with the latest security patches
• Never click links or open attachments from unverified sources
• Never share personal information online or over the phone with unknown contacts
• Contact your financial institution directly if someone claiming to be from your bank or credit union asks for login credentials or account details—don't respond to the original message
• Verify phone calls independently—if you suspect a scam, look up the official number for your bank or credit union and call them directly
• Identify deepfakes by zooming in on images or videos and checking for unnatural lip movements, skin texture, or facial features 

Red Flags of a Spoofing Attack

Watch for these warning signs that may indicate a spoofing scam:

• Website URLs that are similar to—but not exactly the same as—legitimate sites
• Messages with spelling errors, typos, or unusual syntax
• Requests to call a phone number that doesn't match your financial institution's official number
• Anyone asking you to share login credentials or account numbers
• Familiar branding (logos, colors, buttons) in messages requesting unusual actions

What to Do If You Suspect a Spoofing Scam

If you believe you've been targeted by a spoofing scam or have accidentally shared personal information:

1. Contact your financial institution immediately to report the incident and secure your accounts
2. Change your passwords for any potentially compromised accounts
3. Monitor your accounts for unauthorized transactions
4. Report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov

At Community Resource Credit Union, we're committed to helping our members stay safe from fraud. If you have questions about your account security or suspect fraudulent activity, contact us immediately.