You know those moments when you read a news article about someone falling for a scam and think, “How could they be so gullible?” Yeah, well, I ate those words hook, line, and sinker today.
I, Mark Haines—an entrepreneur, writer, and guy who thinks he’s pretty savvy about online security—got phished. It was a simple email from my attorney, seemingly informing me she had some information to share. The link took me to Dropbox and then to a Microsoft sign-in for OneDrive, and everything looked legit, so I clicked.
Nothing opened. So I tried again. Same result.
I had just received an email from the attorney about something else, so I responded to that and told her I couldn’t sign in to retrieve the item she had just sent.
Then the response: “Mark, please do not open it. It’s a phishing email. We are not sending you anything via Dropbox.”
The Sinking Feeling
That gut-wrenching feeling washed over me. I knew I’d been had. I raced to change any credential I used because of that email: Dropbox, Microsoft, iCloud—wait, are there others? Fortunately, I have two-factor identification enabled everywhere, and nothing has been changed.
Nonetheless, panic mode set in. I started going through every account I could think of, changing passwords and enabling two-factor authentication wherever possible. It was a chaotic few hours, filled with self-loathing and a healthy dose of “How could I be so stupid?”
Lessons Learned (the Hard Way)
Slow Down: No matter how urgent an email seems, take a moment to breathe and analyze it. Hover over links to see the URL, check for typos or inconsistencies, and contact the company directly through official channels if you’re unsure.
Trust Your Gut: That nagging feeling you get when something seems off? It’s usually right. Don’t ignore it.
Two-Factor Authentication is Your Friend: Make it a standard practice for all your accounts. It adds an extra layer of security that can be a lifesaver in situations like this.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up: We all make mistakes. It is important to learn from them and take steps to protect ourselves in the future.
The Crooks Are Getting Really Good: This email looked really legit. It didn’t have the usual misspellings or slightly off-color colors.
The Takeaway
Today was a humbling reminder that even the most “security-conscious” individuals can fall victim to scams. The internet is a wild west of trickery, and the phishers are getting more sophisticated daily.
Stay vigilant, my friends. Don’t let your guard down, and always remember: if it seems too good to be true or too urgent to ignore, it probably is.