Glossary term
Phishing
A scam message designed to trick you into sharing information or acting quickly.
Reviewed 15 August 2026
Definition
A scam message, usually an email or text, that pretends to be from a real organisation to trick you into sharing information or acting quickly.
In plain English
It often looks like it's from your bank, a delivery company or a service you use, and tries to rush you into clicking a link, opening an attachment or entering details.
Why it matters
Recognising the pattern, not just one specific message, helps you pause on the next one that looks a little different.