What is Phishing?

Phishing is an attempt to criminally and fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details, by posing as a trustworthy site in an electronic communication. Most of the online banks are common targets. Phishing is typically carried out by e-mail or instant messaging, and often directs users to enter details at a website, although phone contact has also been used at times. 

How to Spot Phishing Emails

The best way to avoid becoming a phishing scam victim is to use your best judgment. No financial institution with any sense will email you and ask you to input all of your sensitive information. In fact, most institutions are informing customers that “We will never ask you for your personal information via phone or email”. Safety tips to avoid Phishing? When you receive emails claiming to be sent by banking institution asking you to enter your account details, DO NOT do so! Your bank already has your details and clearly would not want them again.

 

Check if the email that you receive has your name spelt correctly. Fraudsters simply try to guess your name by your email address. DO NOT open emails that have your name spelt incorrectly.

DO NOT respond to emails that seem like they are sent from your bank. Some of the claims made in these emails may be the following: - You are to receive a refund - The bank is trying to protect you from a fraud - The bank needs some security and maintenance update on your account

If you receive such email always check back with your bank directly or speak to the customer service representative of the bank.

NEVER enter your credit card details and password in a website which you suspect is not genuine.

It is a good practice to type in the URL of your bank yourself, or bookmark it if the URL is difficult to remember.

DO NOT follow links to a banking website from another website or email.

Verify a website’s URL carefully before you provide your login details on any web page. Fraudsters create fake websites that have URLs closely resembling the original.  DO NOT share your account details, password, or credit card details with anyone who you do not know or trust. Log in to your accounts regularly and look for account transactions that you do not recognize. DO NOT send your account details and/or password over an email to anyone. Password: Important tips to keep your password safe in the Cyber World. Never tell or share your password or with anyone. Never write your password on the paper, or send your password in Email or tell your password over telephone. Always change your password regularly. Avoid choosing the “Remember/Save my password” option. Avoid typing the password in-front of others. Always use the different passwords for different logins. Do's Use a password with mixed-case letters (eg, AaBb) and use upper-case letters in the middle and/or end, not just the beginning. Use a password that is easy to remember, so you don’t have to write it down. Use a password that you can type quickly, without having to look at the keyboard. This makes it harder for someone to steal your password by watching over your shoulder Passwords are the secret which is used to protect the valuable personal information that is stored in our computer and in our Online Accounts. Don’ts Don’t tell a password over the phone to ANYONE. Don’t reveal a password in a email message. Don’t talk about a password in front of others. Don’t use the “Remember Password” feature of applications (For Example, OutLook, Browser, Messenger) Don’t share a password with family members.