According to the Federal Trade Commission, phishing scams target people by sending them an email that appears to be from a well-known source, then asking for personal information that's subsequently used to steal their identity.
Senior citizens are a big target for this type of crime. In 2020 alone, nearly $1 billion was stolen from those aged 60 and over.
Here's an article from the National Council on Aging that provides more details about what phishing is, how it works, and how to avoid becoming the next victim.