What is the “fear of missing out” (FOMO) tactic in phishing?
FOMO exploits desire to not miss opportunities. Phishing creates artificial scarcity: "Limited time offer," "Only 3 spots remaining," or "Exclusive access expires today." Recipients act quickly to avoid missing out.
Application in phishing: fake prize notifications ("You've won, claim now"), exclusive deals requiring immediate account update, and "limited" offers requiring information submission.
Defense: recognize FOMO as manipulation. Legitimate opportunities don't require instant action on threat of loss. Pause, verify through official channels, and remember that artificial urgency is a red flag.
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