In today's fast-paced digital world, staying connected is second nature to all of us. But amidst the convenience and constant communication, cybercriminals are lurking, attempting to trick us with phishing.
Whether you're a seasoned tech guru or a newbie to the online realm, identifying phishing attempts can be simple and effective with just a little know-how.
Let's learn five easy ways to spot phishing and safeguard your digital life!
1. Look for Suspicious URLs
First things first, let's talk about URLs! Pay close attention to the web addresses you encounter. Scammers often use deceptive URLs that slightly tweak legitimate ones. Before clicking on any link, hover your mouse over it to reveal the actual destination. If it looks fishy or unfamiliar, it's best to steer clear.
Quick Tip: Check for misspellings, added numbers, or unusual domain extensions in the URL. Legitimate websites won't have these irregularities.
2. Beware of Urgent Language and Requests
Imagine receiving an email with a subject line screaming, "URGENT: Your Account is Suspended!" or a message saying, "Act now or lose access forever!" Cybercriminals thrive on the urgency to pressure us into hasty actions. But here's the trick - legitimate companies won't demand immediate responses without offering alternative communication methods.
Quick Tip: Pause and think before acting. Reach out to the company through their official website or customer support to confirm the urgency of the matter.
3. Analyze Email Addresses and Content
Let's put our detective hats on! Phishing emails may look like they're from reputable sources, but the devil lies in the details. Check the sender's email address carefully. Scammers often use misspellings or domain names that resemble legitimate ones.
Furthermore, scrutinize the email's content. Phishing emails may contain poor grammar, spelling errors, or generic greetings. Legitimate communications from reputable companies are usually polished and personalized. In 2022, there were 1.3 million unique phishing websites, the highest number recorded so far.
Quick Tip: Verify the sender's email address against the official contact information on the company's website. If anything seems off, it's likely a phishing attempt.
4. Examine Attachments and Links
Attachments and links can be the gateway for malware to infiltrate your device. Be cautious when opening attachments from unknown sources, even if the email seems legitimate. Likewise, be wary of links that ask you to log in or provide personal information. Research revealed that a staggering 82% of data breaches involve a human element, which includes tactics like phishing and the utilization of stolen credentials.
Quick Tip: When in doubt, don't click! Instead, visit the website directly by typing the URL in your browser or using bookmarks you trust.
5. Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Requests
Picture this: You receive a fabulous prize, like a holiday or a car, but you never signed up for anything. Sounds suspicious, right? Cybercriminals often use unsolicited requests as bait to lure unsuspecting victims. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), released the 2022 Internet Crime Report. According to the IC3, there were 800,944 reported complaints about phishing scams. This staggering number highlights the need to be vigilant and proactive in protecting ourselves online. Don’t believe everything you see!
Quick Tip: Before jumping on an unexpected opportunity, research the company or organization offering it. If you can't find any reputable information, more often than not, it’s going to be a phishing scam.
Moreover, it might be a good idea to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your internet connection and prevents cybercriminals from tracking your data. With the added benefit of a fixed IP VPN, you'll maintain a consistent and secure IP address, enhancing your browsing security and anonymity.
Conclusion
Congratulations, cyber-sleuths! You've now armed yourself with five easy ways to spot phishing attempts. By being vigilant and proactive, you can protect yourself and your digital identity from these cunning cyber tricks.
So, the next time you encounter an email or message that raises an eyebrow, pause, think, and apply your newfound knowledge to stay one step ahead of those pesky phishers. Remember, by staying informed and using the right tools like VPNs, you can navigate the online world safely. Stay smart, stay safe, and surf the web with confidence! Happy browsing!
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).