Dear Valuers,
As the festive season approaches, we would like to remind everyone to stay vigilant and cautious when handling emails and online communications. Unfortunately, cybercriminals often take advantage of the holiday season to launch phishing attacks, attempting to exploit the increased online activity.
Here are some tips to help you recognize and avoid falling victim to festive season phishing scams:
- Verify Sender Information: Be skeptical of unexpected emails, especially those claiming to be from reputable organizations or individuals. Check the sender’s email address carefully, as phishing emails often use deceptive addresses to appear legitimate.
- Think Before Clicking: Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unfamiliar sources. Hover over links to preview the URL before clicking, and verify that it matches the official website address of the purported sender.
- Beware of Urgent or Threatening Language: Phishing emails often create a sense of urgency or use threatening language to manipulate recipients into taking immediate action. Be cautious of emails that demand urgent responses or request sensitive information.
- Check for Generic Greetings: Legitimate organizations typically address individuals by their names. Be cautious of emails that use generic greetings like “Dear Customer” or “Dear User.”
- Look for Spelling and Grammar Errors: Phishing emails often contain spelling and grammar mistakes. Be on the lookout for poorly written content, as this can be a red flag.
- Verify Requests for Personal Information: Legitimate organizations will not ask for sensitive information, such as passwords or financial details, via email. If in doubt, contact the organization directly using trusted contact information, not the information provided in the suspicious email.
- Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible to add an extra layer of security to your accounts.
Wishing you a safe and joyous festive season!
