How to Prevent Phishing Scams? What if you enter your personal information on a fake site? 

Why do you need to prevent phishing scams? The number of reports of “phishing scams” has rapidly grown against the backdrop of more chances to utilize Internet services owing to the impact of people staying indoors due to the corona illness. Since the scams have gotten more complex over the years, it appears that there are certain instances where even Internet users are duped. Here are some suggestions for avoiding harm.

What is a phishing scam?

First of all, “phishing” refers to the fraudulent act of claiming to be a legitimate business or organization in order to steal people’s personal information through the Internet. Fishing, which refers to catching a fish with bait, is where the term “fishing” originated.

Phishing Tricks

A frequent technique is to send consumers an email pretending to be a notification from an online store or bank, and when they click the link in the email, it will take them to a fake website known as a phishing site. In order to validate and update your registration information and increase security, it thus encourages you to enter your ID, password, credit card number, etc. but takes the personal information that is really input.

Unauthorized logins that utilize stolen information to make purchases might cause damage like strange billing or borrowing. Through the messaging features of cellphones and SNS, there have been an increasing number of strategies that direct visitors to bogus websites in recent years, making it important to take action.

Measures to Prevent Phishing

So how can you avoid falling victim to phishing scams? The following measures can be considered to prevent damage from occurring:

Check the email for anything suspicious

Prior to anything else, it’s critical to determine whether the email or message you received is legitimate. Emails intended to trick recipients into responding quickly and anxiously frequently include things like claiming to be an emergency. Just keep in mind that legitimate financial companies will never contact you asking for your personal information or credit card details.

Additionally, if you carefully read the material, you may often uncover red flags like strange Japanese or unusual URLs. The website where you submit personal information could not employ SSL encryption (addresses beginning with https://) and the link destination is http://. Please be sure to carefully examine the sender, receiver, and subject for any questionable information.

Check the official website and official app

When you receive an email requesting personal information, it is also wise to confirm the details on the business’s official website, app, social media account, etc. before assuming that they are accurate. There would have been a formal notice if there had been a true emergency. If this information is withheld, it is preferable to assume that phishing may be taking place.

It might be wise to get in touch with us personally if you are still undecided. In such a case, be sure you get in touch with us using the details on the official website rather than the ones in the email you got.

What to do if you’ve been hit by a phishing scam

However, even if you are very careful, you may enter your personal information without realizing it is a phishing site. What should you do if you are actually a victim of a phishing scam?

Contact the window of the financial institution

The support desk of your financial institution should be contacted first. By quickly taking the required actions, such as temporarily suspending service, changing the PIN, and reissuing the card, damage can be reduced.

If the financial institution’s inquiry finds fraudulent use, it may be possible to cancel the claim or award damages even if the card has already been used for illegal transactions. Please answer as soon as you can after noticing the damage because the time frame for reimbursement varies based on the company, such as “within 60 days from the date of reporting the damage.” Check your usage details because it’s conceivable that your personal information has been taken without your knowledge.

Reporting and notification to public institutions

It is also required to be reported to and discussed with public institutions after contacting the financial institution. At the “Cyber Crime Consultation Desk,” each prefectural police department is taking damage consultations, and at the “Phishing 110 Desk,” information is being requested to help avoid harm.

Similar to this, nationwide consumer affairs centers, national consumer affairs centers, and the Japanese Bankers’ Association can all be consulted for financial harm and difficulties. In addition, the JPCERT Coordination Center takes requests to take down fraudulent websites, and the Anti-Phishing Council offers guidance for damage control. Regardless of whether it results in financial loss, it’s good practice to report any emails or websites that you believe to be phishing.

Don’t forget security measures!

Internet services are now indispensable in people’s lives, but there are also hidden risks of encountering various crimes, such as phishing scams. Avoid reusing passwords; use the latest security software; and enjoy the service with a constant sense of danger.