Advances in technology not only help us but it can also harm us. Cybercrime is becoming more prevalent 
and phishing scams are among the most common scams that threaten your security.
Here are 5 things you need to know about phishing scams:
#1 A Phishing Scam is defined as fraudulent emails that try to make you reveal personal information. Email addresses disguised as ones from your bank, Revenue Canada or any trusted source.
#2 Here are the statistics:
- 9% of online Canadians have replied to spam mail unknowingly.
- 7% have replied to spoof or phishing mail unknowingly.
- 3% have entered bank details on a site they don’t know. That’s over 1 million Canadians! (source)
#3 The content within a phishing scam email is intended to cause a quick response from you. You’ve won or lost money for example is a commonly used scam. The email will often present a link to a fraudulent page that may look similar to a website you’ve visited before. This page will ask you to input your personal information. A good rule of thumb is, when in doubt call the company.
#4 Links to fraudulent websites are often used. Make sure to look at the destination URL of that link provided and see if it matches the actual company website.
#5 Everyone is at risk of a phishing scam so make sure to keep your anti-virus updated and do not open suspicious looking emails. Some email providers even have a way for you to select the email and then identify it as a phishing scam.
Now that you know how to practice cyber-security, now it’s time to think about securing your home and/or business with an Alliance Alarms monitored security system! Call us today for a free estimate (613) 547-6666