Have you ever received an email or text message that seemed a little off? Maybe it said it was from a familiar company but lacked the right letterhead. Or, maybe the message came from a company you have never heard from. The email may have looked legitimate, but asked you to do something you felt uncomfortable with. Chances are, scammers were trying to steal your personal information. To protect your passwords, accounts and social security number, you must learn how to recognize these phishing attempts.
Recognize Scams
Scammers are constantly creating new ploys to attack their victims. Often phishing emails try to trick you into clicking a link or opening attachments. When you do this, they can get access to your personal data. Emails from a scammer might say they’ve noticed suspicious activity in your account, claim there is a problem with your payment, ask you to confirm personal information, say you are eligible for a refund or offer a coupon for free items.
How to Protect Your Data From Attacks
Spam filters may keep many phishing emails out of your inbox, but scammers always work to outsmart the system. To protect yourself from phishing attempts, install proper security software on your computer. Make sure it updates automatically so it is always ready to combat new security threats. Additionally, if your personal accounts offer multi-factor authentication, make sure you activate it. By needing two items to log into your account, scammers are less likely to get to your information.
Report Phishing to Authorities
If you suspect the email you received is a scam, first contact the company it says its from with a phone number or email you know is real. This allows you to confirm whether they sent the email or not. Remember, never click on a link or attachment on the email that says it will direct you to another place. These links contain harmful malware that downloads to your device and steals valuable information.
In the event you receive a phishing email, forward it to the FTC at spam@uce.gov and to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org. Then, report the attempted attack to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
At Trueway, we can help you install a network that protects your company’s most sensitive data. Contact us to learn more.