#LetsBeatFraud: 6 ways to prevent phishing attacks
“Phishing is a form of identity theft whereby someone uses the personal information of another person without his/her knowledge to commit fraudulent acts/crimes, or conduct unauthorized business.”
– Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Phishing scams are getting more sophisticated. Hackers and scammers will do everything to gain your confidence. They will pretend to be someone you know and gain your trust just to steal your information. So, we have to be extra cautious and informed of how they operate.
42%
Who encountered cyber fraud attempts were targeted with phishing attacks
38%
Targeted with money fraud schemes
*Based on the 2022 personal finance survey by Statista in the Philippines
We care about your financial security. We understand the value of your hard-earned money. As your reliable Salary Finance Platform, we’re here to help you outsmart cyber criminals and scammers.
Remember these tips to avoid getting phished:
- Refrain from sharing your personal information
Stop revealing your information such as address, mobile number, bank account details, company or government-issued IDs, payslips, and password or PIN to suspicious email senders offering jobs, freebies, discounts, etc.
- Watch out for links and attachments
Do not click on them or even forward to others if you’re unsure of the source. Key in the official website address into your web browser or look for the “https” to check if the website is secure.
- Change your password and PIN regularly
Security experts recommend changing passwords every 3 months. Make passwords unique for every kind of account you have. You can get creative with your passwords by adding numbers and symbols (if allowed).
- Be mindful of what you share online
Keep your social media account fraud-proof by avoiding oversharing! Cyber criminals may take advantage of any information you post (like your work and home location), use these details to steal your identity, and commit fraudulent activities. Nothing’s really private on social media these days.
- Update security features and programs of your devices
Make sure that the antivirus software and programs of your gadgets are running properly. There’s no harm in having multiple layers of protection.
- Activate Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)
Another way to pump up security is through MFA. It is a security technology that validates logins and transactions. The most common methods include One Time Password (OTP), security questions, and biometrics (fingerprint, voice or facial recognition).
Stay alert and vigilant! Now that you have learned these simple tips, we hope you will be more confident in protecting yourself and your money against phishing attacks.
Bookmark SAVii Education for more resources and fraud-related stories.