Cyber Safe Virtual Presentation Recording

During a recent webinar on identity theft, FineMark’s professionals discussed various topics related to cyber scams and how individuals can protect themselves online. The focus was on phishing attacks, including email, text, phone call, and payment app phishing. The experts also emphasized the importance of social media safety and shared tips to prevent becoming a victim of scams.

Phishing Attacks:

• Email Phishing: The webinar addressed several types of email phishing, such as tech support scams, tax refund scams, suspicious activity notices, social media phishing, incorrect billing information notices, and USPS phishing emails.
• Text Phishing: Attendees learned about the manipulative techniques used by scammers in text messages, exploiting recipients’ trust and urgency to click on malicious links and share sensitive information. They were advised to be cautious of any message resembling a potential SMS scam.
• Phone Call Phishing: Voice phishing, also known as vishing, was discussed as another form of phishing attack. Scammers often use automated calls and caller ID spoofing to deceive victims emotionally and make their calls appear legitimate.
• Payment App Phishing: The potential risks associated with payment apps and phishing attempts were explained to provide awareness and help individuals protect their financial information.

Social Media Safety: The webinar highlighted how cyber criminals can exploit personal information shared on social media and stressed the need to limit what is posted and shared online. The experts emphasized that even on private forums or with strong privacy settings, one should assume that anything posted might become public at some point. Additionally, they advised being mindful that regardless of privacy options set, information is being collected, especially on free services like Facebook® or WhatsApp®.

Prevention Tips:

• Learning the Warning Signs: Attendees were encouraged to recognize the warning signs of phishing attacks, such as emails containing a sense of urgency, generic greetings, typos, and suspicious links. Slowing down and checking for these signs can help avoid falling victim to scams.
• Verifying Sender’s Email Address: Double-checking the sender’s email address was emphasized as scammers often use lookalike or spoofed addresses. Hovering over the sender’s name or double-clicking to reveal the email address can help determine if it’s from an official domain.
• Regular Monitoring: Regularly checking credit reports and bank statements for signs of identity theft, such as unrecognized charges or accounts, was recommended. The use of identity theft protection services, like Aura, that monitor credit and statements for signs of fraud was also suggested.
• Being Suspicious of Links: Attendees were advised to exercise caution when clicking on links in emails from unfamiliar sources. Hovering over the link to see the destination and visiting the site directly instead of relying on email links can help avoid potential scams.

Interested in more cyber security tips? Check out our video library!

Learn how to deter, detect and defend against fraud and potentially prevent your identity from being stole. If you have questions about this article or think you have been a victim of identity theft, give us a call.