Phishing scams are common these days. The worst part is that the scammers think of innovative ways to bluff people. Lately, a new Netflix scam is doing the rounds. The subscribers came across fake alerts that mentioned the fact that their accounts got suspended.
Now, what this scam does is that it prompts the users to enter their personal information so that they can release their accounts. The scam claims that the suspension occurs due to problems in the automatic verification process. The subscribers get prompted to update their payment method and also to release their accounts. The same scam targeted American Express also.
There is no denying the fact that the situation is alarming for Netflix subscribers. It also shows that big brands are the major target when it comes to scams. The worst part is that there has been a 250% increase in these scams. One thing can be said for sure after looking at this percentage, and that is trouble is far from over.
Plus, the scammers leave no stone unturned to achieve perfection when it comes to bluffing the users because Netflix and Amex emails were flawless as per grammar standards. The strange aspect of the Netflix and Amex scam is that these campaigns got launched almost at the same time.
Now, this is a red flag alert, and this means that the users need to be on their guard. The question is how to counter these scams. We will find the answers here.
Safeguarding from phishing scams
Report Suspicious Emails to The Relevant Institution or Brand
The most important thing is that you should be able to identify an email phishing scam. The essential thing that you need to keep in mind is legitimate companies will not request information through email. If you receive an attachment from an institution, and it asks you to give your personal or payment information, then it should be a red flag alert for you.
The smart move is that you should report this email to the institution so that they can check things at their end also. What you need to keep in mind is that when an email is authentic, then it will request you to visit the website of the institution or brand.
They will direct you to download the attachment from their official website. Plus, authentic emails should come from authentic domain emails. You need to check these small details if you want to protect yourself from scams. Awareness is the key to protecting yourself from all types of phishing scams.
Hover Over A Link to Find the Actual Web Address
If you find a link in the email, then make sure that you hover over the link so that you can view the actual web address. If you feel that you cannot trust the address, then try searching for the relevant terms in the web browser. The benefit of this practice is that you will find the article or web page without the need to click on the link directly.
Follow the Safe Email Protocol
The most important thing is that you should make it a point to follow the safe email protocol. Well, this means that if you suspect a message to be a scam, then make sure that you delete it right away.
Install the Best Software Security Products
You should also make it a point to install the best software security products. If you already have a security product installed, then make sure that you update it from time to time so that your computer remains secure all the time.
It is also essential that you change the passwords of all your accounts from time to time. Try to keep strong passwords so that your accounts remain safe. When you follow these practices, then you will notice that you are less vulnerable to phishing scams.
Remember that when you have an unprotected computer, then it is more of an open door for phishing scams. Get hold of a reliable scam filter, or you should have a gateway that will help you to scan the inbound messages.
Online security is critical, and you should not make any compromises on it.
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