Online Phishing Scams : Total Security Software Protecting PCs & You

 Online Phishing Scams : Total Security Software

Protecting PCs & You

Online fraudsters are increasingly trying to obtain personal data such as addresses, dates of birth, passwords, bank details, or credit card numbers. To do this, the criminals contact potential victims by phone or email. The scam is called phishing - an artificial word made up of the terms password and fishing. Stolen data is often resold to other fraudsters, and bank details and credit card numbers are used for purchases on behalf of the victims. The market presents common phishing tricks and tips on how consumers can protect themselves.

Email Phishing: What Scammers Do

The perpetrators often obtained the email addresses of potential victims through address dealers. They often send potential victims manipulated file attachments or links which, after clicking, install undetected spy programs on the computer or lead to fake websites of well-known companies, for example from a bank or government agency, and recently also from streaming services such as Netflix and Maxdome. For example, on the fake pages, potential victims are asked to enter their login details.

Protection Against Phishing Emails

These precautionary measures can protect against phishing scammers:

• Be suspicious of email senders you don't Know. But e-mails from known senders can also be manipulated - if the Senders themselves have been victims of a phishing attack.

• Don't let yourself be put under time Pressure.

• Do not click links from unknown senders.

• Do not open attachments from unknown Senders.

• Do not carelessly give out personal information such as dates of birth, addresses, and bank details.

• Do not react to suspicious e-mails, for example with a reply.

• Government institutions, banks, Financial service providers, airlines, or online shops never ask their Customers to change their login details or account details without being Asked. If in doubt, call the company the email is said to have come from.

Detect Suspicious Emails

In more and more cases, fake emails can hardly be distinguished from real emails. Indications of a forgery are for example

• Missing personal address
• Misspellings, strange sentence Structure, poor writing style
• Threats
• Request to enter personal data
• Request to click attachments or links
• Unsolicited mail in English
• Companies unknown to you
• Companies you know who have never Contacted you by email before

Phishing by Phone: How Scammers Go About It

Phishing by phone often comes from professionally equipped, illegal call centers that are based abroad. Trained employees work on the telephones and have plausible answers to every objection from the person called. They pretend to be employees of large companies such as Microsoft, Apple, Sparkassen, Netflix, competition providers, or PayPal. State authorities such as public prosecutors or tax offices are also simulated. The fraudsters put the called under pressure and induce them to make quick decisions. Either to avert a supposedly greater evil. Or to get supposedly big financial gains.

Protection Against Phishing by Phone

These measures can protect against phishing attacks over the phone:

• Do not sign in by name.

• Answer in full sentences. Don't Answer questions with "yes".

• Don't let yourself be pressured.

• Never give personal details such as bank Details on the phone!

• Obtain written documents before Transferring money.

• If you receive multiple calls: block the telephone number on your telephone.

• If you have been taken by surprise and accepted an offer, cancel in writing and contact your bank to stop approved payments. Report it to the police.

 Install Protegent360's total security to minimize the chance of phishing attacks