FOMO means fear of missing out. In cyber security, it describes the pressure users feel when a message, reward, or deadline suggests they must act immediately or lose something valuable. Attackers use FOMO to shorten the time victims spend checking details, making hasty clicks, fake sign-ins, and rushed approvals more likely.
FOMO is effective in phishing because urgency lowers caution. A fake reward page, limited-time offer, or account warning can look believable when users are focused on not missing the opportunity. Defenders counter it by slowing the decision process: verify URLs, avoid logging in through unsolicited links, use multi-factor authentication, and treat time pressure as a warning sign rather than a reason to rush.