Scams carried out through phishing or smishing are common attacks these days. Who is not inundated with emails and SMS containing fake web addresses, telephone numbers to contact, various offers, each more attractive than the last? After explaining what phishing is, it's time to help you avoid getting caught in the cracks!
- Check the subject and sender of the email or SMS
- Most malicious messages will have a subject similar to this:
- You won the lottery
- Verify your account
- Your request has been registered
- Please confirm your identity ( although you have not registered on this site )
- Exceptional offers
- Refund offers
The subject combined with the sender should already tease you and create an ounce of suspicion in you. If you receive an email from a distributor/store when you never receive one, you should already be asking yourself questions. If you are asked to validate your registration when you have no memory of this site, do not go further and delete this message.
Identify Phishing and Smishing Messages
Phishing emails can take many forms. Often times they will use the exact logo of the company/company, the signature of one or more important people from that organization, they can use the layout and colors of their official email, website, etc.
Hackers even use phishing to trick users who have already been scammed. They pose as an organization that could help them recover previously lost money and take the opportunity to direct you to a fictitious site in order to recover your personal identifiers or money.
The SMS will usually ask you (often urgently) to click on a link to a website or call a phone number in order to verify, update, or reactivate your account. The link to the website will take you to a fictitious site that will claim to be a legitimate business. The goal is to get you to disclose any information that could help fraudsters steal your money.
Do Not Click on Links
Phishing and smishing messages usually link to fictitious web pages that are an (almost) exact replica of the original site. These scam websites are used by crooks to collect your personal data or to install spyware/malware on your system. So be careful about which links you click.
Take the right reflexes and connect to the company's website directly by typing the web address into your browser. Do not "cut and paste" the link in the email or SMS and then paste it in your browser. Scammers can create links that are identical to the official website address, but which will direct you to an exact copy of the official website. Also, avoid responding to a fraudulent message. This could activate a system that would indicate that your email is active and that the fraudster can reuse it in future spam.
Secure Website
Make sure you always use a secure website when filling out personal and/or sensitive information. To make sure you are on a secure web server, check the internet address in your browser's bar. starts with "https: //" rather than "HTTP: //" . You should also see a small padlock near the web address If when connecting to the website your browser displays a security alert indicating that the site is not trusted, you should not continue because it is probably from a pirate site.
- Increase the security of your system
- Keep your computer secure with efficient software and regular updates. For example :
- Install (or improve) firewall protection
- Keep your browser secure by installing updates as they become available
- Make sure your operating system is also up to date
- Use recognized antivirus software and update it regularly
- Use anti-spyware software
- Use a spam filter
- Delete cookies as often as possible
- Browse the Internet from a user, non-administrator session
If in Doubt
If you believe you have been the victim of a phishing or smishing scam, contact the targeted company directly to determine if this is the sender of the message. If you contact the official sender of the message by phone, be sure to get the number from a directory or the company's official website.
The company will take the necessary measures and will contact the police to report the incident. It is important to report the issue for your benefit if you have been trapped, but also to prevent it from affecting more than one person.
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