Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for fresh opportunities to steal sensitive information. Major events, like the upcoming Eurovision competition in Liverpool, can be a goldmine for online scammers. With tens of thousands of people making Eurovision-related travel plans, cybercriminals have a wealth of targets to choose from.

One of the most effective tactics scammers employ is phishing. By impersonating an authoritative organization (e.g. a bank, travel site, airline, or hotel) cybercriminals can trick consumers into giving up sensitive data. Targeted data can include login credentials, credit card numbers, and personal information that can be used to gain unauthorized access to online accounts and finances.

The following tips will help guard against phishing and keep personal data safe -- not only when planning a Eurovision trip to Liverpool this May, but any time.

• Be Wary Of Unsolicited Requests For Personal Information-Legitimate companies will never contact a customer soliciting sensitive information. Individuals that receive such solicitations should contact the reputed organization directly -- without using any contact information (links, email addresses, phone numbers, etc.) provided in the suspect message.

• Never Open Unsolicited Links or Attachments, Regardless Of Sender-One should exercise extreme caution with links or attachments that arrive via email or text, even if the sender seems trustworthy. Similar to the point above, the safest course of action is to make contact through trusted channels and verify the legitimacy of the message.

• Use Two-Factor Authentication-Whenever possible, use two-factor authentication (like a verification code sent via text) for financial transactions and other sensitive communications. This provides an added layer of security that phishers cannot easily duplicate.