Scams target individuals worldwide from all walks of life, ages, and economic levels. There is no particular group of people who are more likely to fall victim to a scam; everyone is susceptible to scams at some point.
Scammers are now more sophisticated, taking advantage of the latest technology, services or products, and actual events to fool you into giving them your personal information or money.
But don’t worry, there are solutions to this problem–and these fundamental email and phone security standards can go a fair distance toward defending your space against thousands of attacks from scammers.
Here are some tips on how to best protect yourself from phonies using best practices for email security and the elimination of phone scams:
Try changing passwords regularly
You may be accustomed to avoiding changing passwords since remembering them is inconvenient, but the corporate world is not so fair. Therefore, changing your passwords frequently is one of the most basic email security recommendations.
Leaked passwords and security breaches occur every year, and thieves usually wait a while before launching another attempt. So consider your password as the first layer of protection, and changing it once a year, at the absolute least, will strengthen your security.
Keep an eye on your email activity
It’s similar to practicing your principles. It may appear simple, but it pays off. If you’re a business person, you’re probably using your business email for everything. So you should keep track of what you’ve been doing with your emails.
For example, monitor how many newsletters you are subscribed to and try to keep an eye on them, or how often you send messages and emails in a day. Do you only use your email for business purposes, or do you also use it for personal reasons?
Be mindful of “phishing emails”
“Phishing emails,” which are inspired by a fun outdoor pastime, are one of the ways hackers steal your account details. So naturally, you’ll be tricked by such emails that ask you to “log” into your account. Still, in reality, you’re just starting to put your email address, password, and possibly other private information into their databases, such as fishing.
Never use public WiFi to check your email
As you may have heard, public WiFi networks are never safe, from the perspective of all internet service providers. You might have just as quickly invited the hacker directly into your network.
Warning signs for phone scams
This illegal activity has become more accessible due to technological advancements. For example, auto-dialers allow shady operators to make millions of robocalls for a few bucks each day.
The overwhelming number of fraud reports filed with the FTC by those aged 60 and up did not include any evidence of financial loss. Furthermore, consumers in that age range identified fraud and reported it nearly twice as often as those between 20 and 59. Identifying these warning signs will significantly help you in eliminating phone scams.
- Unsolicited phone calls from someone pretending to work for the government, a public agency, or a large technology company like Apple or Microsoft.
- Unwanted phone calls from charitable fundraising, particularly around the holidays and after natural calamities,
- Calls from salespeople promoting services or products that seem too good to be true.
- A sales call from an organization you haven’t permitted to contact you. That is almost certainly a fraud and an unlawful robocall.
So, what do you need to do when you notice one of these warning signs?
- Register your phone number with the Federal Trade Commission’s “National Do Not Call Registry.”
- Try utilizing a call-blocking smartphone app or gadget to filter your calls and clear out scams and spam.
- Do not answer illegal robocalls.
- Investigate what they are offering you.
- Do not be afraid.
And what to avoid?
- Avoid answering calls and never return one-ring calls from unknown numbers.
- Never follow the directions on a prerecorded message, like “Press 1” to connect with a live operator. You’ll almost certainly end up in a phishing scam.
- Do not provide your financial or personal information to unknown callers. It’s a trick if they pretend they have your details and you need to confirm it.
- Pay no registration or delivery fees in exchange for a supposedly free product or reward. These costs are only schemes to obtain your payment details. Paying with a prepaid debit, wire transfer, or gift card is not a good idea. These tactics are popular among fraudsters since they are difficult to trace.
Looking for more guidance when it comes to your email security?
AK Consulting-Twin Cities IT offers on-demand IT services specifically designed to bring small business owners a trusted solution in information technology. Reach out today to set up a complimentary consultation.