What is the primary intention of phishing schemes on the internet?

The primary intention of phishing schemes is to secure personal account information from victims. Phishing scams are designed to trick individuals into providing sensitive data such as passwords, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and other personal information. This is often achieved through deceptive emails, websites, or messages that appear to be from legitimate sources, leading users to believe they are engaging with a trustworthy entity. Once attackers have acquired this information, they can exploit it for financial gain, identity theft, or other malicious activities.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the true purpose of phishing. For example, increasing the security of financial institutions or promoting online banking services are not goals of phishing schemes; rather, they undermine security and trust in online services. Similarly, verifying user identities for financial transactions implies a legitimate process where personal data is authorized and secure, unlike the deceptive and fraudulent tactics employed in phishing.