1

Watch Out for Phishing Scams

Watch Out for Phishing Scams

Cybercriminals are counting on us to be distracted and let our guard down. If we do, they can trick us into handing over our personal or financial information using one of their favorite tactics – phishing. You might be familiar with email phishing but it’s not the only type of phishing you could experience. Criminals will also use phone calls, text messages, websites and social media to deploy a phishing scam. Below are some common forms of phishing that you might encounter and the warning signs to look out for. Phone call phishing Warning signs to look out for 1. A phone call from “your credit card company” or “financial institution”, typically from someone who works in the “Security and Fraud Department” 2. You are told your card has been flagged for suspicious transactions and you need to prove that you have the card in your possession 3. You are asked to provide the three-digit security code on the back of your payment card, a one-time passcode that was just sent to you, or your PIN