The $1000 Phone Bill Scam

Last month I got an email announcing that I had an upcoming phone bill that was over $1000, with a link to inspect/pay it.  Since I was in the midst of wedding chaos, and plagued by inadequate Internet service, I chose to just go over to the phone store and talk to them in person.  Guess what??  It was a scam.  My phone bill was the same as usual and the Link would have exposed me to possible viruses and/or identity theft.  This type of thing has to be stopped.  What if I had a weak heart?  Or was already so far in debt that this was the final straw?  How can these criminals continue to prey on our citizens?