Phrancis, Phisher of Men Posted on Phrancis, Phisher of Men Readers might remember the “phishing” scheme that replaced telemarketing as the World’s Most Annoying Thing back in the aughts. The way the scam usually works is that a con artist sends out e-mails designed to look exactly like notifications from real banks, corporations, or government agencies. The e-mail asks the recipient—who believes he or she is communicating with a legitimate entity—to update passwords or provide other personal information. It’s a variety of the old bait-and-switch operation: an unsuspecting victim thinks one thing is going on, all above board and on the level, when in reality he or she is being had.