National Consumer Protection Week (March 1–7) is a nationwide effort to help people guard their money and personal information. This year also includes Slam the Scam Day on March 5, which focuses on stopping imposter scams, one of the fastest‑growing types of fraud in the country.

We are posting content every day during Consumer Protection Week to help people in the communities we serve combat fraud and report it so that scammers can’t continue to take advantage of unsuspecting victims.

We all love personalization—those thoughtful details that make something feel truly you.

But when phishing scams are personalized with details like your job title, name, company branding, or other personal information, it can become much harder to tell a fraudulent message from a legitimate one.

That’s where spear phishing comes in. Spear phishing is a type of scam that uses personal information in emails and other communications to target a specific individual. Because these messages include familiar details, they often appear far more legitimate than traditional phishing attempts.

Thanks to AI and other readily available tools, bad actors can now easily gather information from social media and other public sources—and then weave it seamlessly into convincing spear‑phishing emails.

Our Director of Information Technology, Aaron Williams, cautions that spear‑phishing emails can look especially credible because of the technology now available to cybercriminals.

“With the use of AI, these emails look very professional. They no longer have the misspellings, and a lot of the time, they take into consideration aspects of your life that are publicly available to target you directly,” Williams said.

To combat spear phishing, Williams recommends a common‑sense, practical approach.

Use the same strategy you would to stop any phishing attempt: stop, reach out, and confirm that the message is authentic.

Here are a few key things to keep in mind:

• Look closely at the “from” address. Have you communicated with that address before?
• Remember that email addresses can be spoofed, making it critical to independently verify the message’s legitimacy before taking action.

For more tips on how to protect yourself from this growing type of fraud, follow the FCCU blog.

First Commerce Credit Union provides this content to inform and inspire. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee this information is accurate, complete or current.  This information is not professional advice (tax, legal, financial, etc.) and should not replace your individual consultation with qualified advisors. Laws, rules, and personal circumstances can change, so please verify how this information applies (or does not apply) to your situation and location. All decisions remain your responsibility. First Commerce Credit Union and its affiliates and employees assume no liability for outcomes resulting from the use of this material.