How to identify a phishing attempt
How to identify a scam or phishing attempt
As technology advance, so would those cybercrimes getting more and more sophisticated in their technique each day. It has become increasingly challenging to identify their tricks.
Most fraudsters use email or SMS text messages to deceive their target into giving them personal information such as passwords, account numbers, or Social insurance numbers. Once obtained, they could access the victims' email, bank, or other accounts to obtain financial gain. These fraudsters release thousands of phishing attacks every day and often successful in what they are doing.
In 2019 alone, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported over $57 million lost to phishing schemes.
Here are some tips and signs that might help you recognize a phishing email or text message to fight cybercrimes.
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Emails like such (known as "Phishing") and SMS text messages (known as "Smishing") send you and lead you to a linked website that may design to deceive the victim. It looks like from a known or trust company. (It could be like a bank, a social networking site, a credit card company, an online store, an online payment website or app or more. )
Remember, if something you get it is too good to be true, it usually is. Always be suspicious and get to the source. Do more investigation before you response.
These scams involved telling a story to the target by clicking on a link or opening an attachment. Stories may be from any of these:
1. The "bank" noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts
2. Notify a person there's an account or payment issue and need the correct information to fix
3. Attached with a fake invoice
4. Asking to confirm some personal information
5. Request for payment by clicking
6. Won, offer coupons, or about to send some free stuff
7. Congratulate the recipient they are eligible for a government refund
Always be suspicious when such an email gets in the inbox. How do you identify if these are a scam?
1. The email always designed to looks like it's from a familiar company
2. Email notifying your account is on hold because of a billing problem.
3. Email not identifying the recipient, often starting with "Hi Dear."
4. Comes with a link to update your payment details.
The email they send might look genuine from the company. It has the company logo, nicely layout screen, lots of detail and addresses that look similar to the real one. Remember, Phishing email's objective is to deceive someone, so the victim could get the fraudster what they want, their information while harming the companies' reputation they're spoofing.
Although email spam filters might keep lots of phishing emails out of the inbox, fraudsters are constantly attempting to outmaneuver spam filters. Protect Yourself From Phishing by adding an extra protection layer, as such:
1. Secure the computer by using the most up to date anti-virus and security software. Always set the automatic update on to receive the latest threat response.
2. Protect cellphones software to update automatically. Updates could protect against security threats.
3. Use multi-factor authentication if available. Multi-factor authentication makes it harder for a fraudster to log in to your accounts even if they get your username and password.
4. Always do a backup. Make sure those backups do not connect to your network.
Phishing attempt wants you to click on a link or open an attachment, refrain from doing so and verify with the source if they are genuine. If not, erase and do not respond to the email. If suspicious, always call and verify with the source. Do not use the email provided contact number but do your research to get the "Real" contact number from a reputable site.
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Anyone may have "accidentally" followed the phishing email's instructions and give in their information, such as Social insurance, credit card, or bank account number.
To minimize damage, act quickly by calling the bank, visit https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca and report the crime. There are specific steps to take based on the information.
Let just say a hacker gains access to an employee's email or breaches your network. We'll cover costs to fix the problem and breach-related expenses such as credit monitoring and regulatory penalties.
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