Email, text and phone fraud: do you know what to look out for?
Criminals love a crisis, so the COVID-19 situation means it's more important than ever to be on the alert for fraud. Read on for some tips to help you tell if they're real or not.
Scam artists have been known to pose as financial advisors, government officials, police officers, charity workers, even family members. Their goal: to get you to give up confidential information or transfer them money.
When a company reaches out to you through calls, emails or text – be cautious when they:
- Ask for personal or confidential information, like your social insurance number
- Claim there is a problem with your account or payment information
- Say you’re eligible for a government refund
- Claim they’ve noticed suspicious activity or login attempts
- Send texts or emails with clickable links or requesting money transfers
If you are not comfortable providing your information, tell the representative that you will call back. Be sure to call the number on a statement or letter the organization sent you or use the phone number on their website.
How to avoid becoming the next victim of phishing:
- Ensure the software on both your computer and mobile device are up to date. Updates can provide critical protection against security threats, so set them to update automatically.
- Most companies today will allow you to set up 2-step verification for an extra layer of security.
- Protect your data on all devices by backing it up on an external hard drive or cloud storage.
Stay alert and know what to watch out for!
Sources:
Desjardins, Email, text and phone fraud: Can you tell a fake message from a real one?
Government of Canada: Slam the scam – Protect yourself against fraud
These tips are provided for information and prevention purposes only. They are general in nature, and The Personal cannot be held liable for them. We recommend using caution and consulting an expert for comprehensive, tailored advice.