Identifying and Avoiding Phishing Scams in Online Banking

A business will often have to rake in more than what it spends to make money, and this is true even when the business is criminal. It takes a lot of coding and research to create a new strain of ransomware or a new data-stealing Trojan. The most effortless by comparison is creating a fake version of a banking website or PayPal. Phishing fraudsters increase their profit by reducing expenses.

All they have to do is scam enough individuals into handing over their credentials to the fake site. The stolen credentials can drain bank accounts, steal personal data, or sell these credentials in bulk to other malefactors. You would never want to fall victim to phishing scams. However, at Jortty, we are going to share the best tips to identify and avoid this sad fate when you suspect phishing.

How To Recognize Phishing

The scammers use text messages or emails to try to steal passwords, Social Security Numbers, or account numbers. If they ever get their hands on the information, then they would gain access to your bank, email, or other accounts. They would even sell your data to other scammers to launch a phishing attempt. Scammers would often launch several phishing attacks like these daily and they are often successful. The scammers would often update their techniques to stay updated on the latest trends or news; however, here are a couple of techniques used in phishing text messages or emails:

Phishing text messages and emails often narrate a story to trick others into clicking on the link while opening an attachment. You may get unexpected text messages or emails that appear like it is from a company you know or trust, like a credit card a bank, or a utility company. Or it can be through an online payment app or website. The message can be from the scammer who might:

• mentioning that they have noticed some suspicious activities or log-in attempts – that they haven’t

• claiming that there is an issue with your account or your payment information – where there isn’t

• says that you have to confirm some financial or personal information – that you don’t have to

• including an invoice that you fail to identify – since it is fake

• wants you to click on a link to make a payment – however, the link has malware

• says you are eligible to register for a government refund – but it is a scam

• offers a coupon for free stuff – it is not real

How To Protect Yourself From Phishing Attacks

The spam filters in your email may prevent emails away from your inbox as a phishing response. However, the scammers would often try outsmarting the spam filters, so additional layers of protection would help. The following are four different ways to safeguard yourself from these phishing attacks.

Four Ways To Protect Yourself From Phishing

1. Safeguard your computer by using security software. Set your software to update automatically when new security threats are detected.

2. Safeguard your cell phone by setting it to update the software automatically. Such updates offer important protection against every form of security threat.

3. Safeguard your accounts by using MFA or multi-factor authentication. A couple of accounts are offering additional security that needs two or more credentials for logging into your account. It is known as multi-factor authentication. These additional credentials require you to log into your account and come under three categories, such as:

• Something that you already know, like a PIN, passcode, or an answer to a security question.
• Something that you already have, like a one-time verification passcode that you get through email, text, or from an authenticator app or a security key
• Something that you are like scanning a fingerprint, or your face, or your retina
• MFA, or multi-factor authentication, makes it tougher for scammers to log into accounts if they get your username or password.

4. Protect your data by backing it up using AI Tech. You can back up the data on your computer, external hard drive, or cloud, or on your phone.

Conclusion

Since phishing normally depends on the ability of cybercriminals to play into human emotions and manipulate their behaviors, these attacks never disappear completely. None, even the trained IT or the security professional, is entirely immune to the panic of the attackers. Employee training would often continue into becoming one of the most essential preventative or administrative security controls companies would employ along with several tech controls; however, we should resign ourselves to adopting the personal “never trust, always verify” approach to online security.