Phishing alert – protect yourself from online scams

One thoughtless click has the power to compromise your entire network and reveal confidential data to criminals. Phishing scams are getting more sophisticated. Staying alert to common threats and increasing your awareness is crucial for businesses operating online – especially during the holiday season when online activity is at its highest.

Here are some tips to avoid falling victim to a phishing scam.

What is phishing?

Phishing is a type of cyber-attack where victims receive an email or text message from what they think is a trusted source but is actually an ingenious fake, designed to trick them into sharing sensitive information like usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or other confidential data. This data can then be exploited for fraud, identity theft or other malicious purposes.

How to identify a phishing scam?

Phishing emails are easy to spot if you know what to look for. Keep an eye open for:

• Spelling mistakes or bad grammar.
• An unfamiliar or strange sender email.
• A strange URL.
• A sense of urgency to take action.

How to protect yourself from phishing

• Be suspicious of urgent requests.
• Don’t open unexpected attachments or follow links.
• Use two-factor authentication.
• Educate your family and colleagues on how to identify a phishing email.
• Put email spam filters in place.
• When uncertain, confirm directly with your service provider.

What to do if you have fallen for a phishing scam

If you have fallen victim to a phishing attack, here are some immediate steps you should take:

• Change any passwords that were affected.
• Run a virus scan to ensure your device hasn't been infected with malware.
• Report the attack to the business the email pretended to be from.
• If your credit card details were compromised, cancel them immediately and call your bank’s fraud support line.
• Enable two-factor authentication as an extra layer of security.
• Review your credit card and bank account statements regularly.
• Contact the authorities – www.cybercrime.org.za is South Africa’s national fraud and internet crime reporting centre.

We have learned to dodge spam emails, but phishing emails can look deceivingly credible. Some are even personalized specifically for you. While phishing can be a difficult area to tackle at times, by following the simple tips and advice outlined, you can greatly minimize your risk of falling victim to digital scammers.

Aneesa Khan

Head: Finance and ICT

Source:

 www.xneelo.co.za

https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams

https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/avoiding-social-engineering-and-phishing-attacks

https://fraud.org/tips-for-reducing-your-risk-of-fraud-this-holiday-shopping-season/