Scams and fraud are unfortunate hazards of the digital age and they are getting increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to get your money or personal details.
When you know how to spot scams, you know how to protect yourself. Here are 8 things you can do to keep fraudsters at bay:
Never share your
One Time Password (OTP)
Your One Time Password (OTP) is the first line of defence against potential fraudsters. Never share your OTP with anyone under any circumstances.
Do subscribe to instant alerts and notifications — it can be annoying at times, but it is important.
Do subscribe to instant alerts and notifications — it can be annoying at times, but it is important.
Choose passwords carefully and update regularly
Create passwords that are at least 8 characters long and that include a mix of lower and upper case letters, numbers and special characters.
Ideally, you should create a unique password for every account. That way, one data breach won’t put all your accounts at risk.
Ideally, you should create a unique password for every account. That way, one data breach won’t put all your accounts at risk.
Never share your
Reset password link
Your reset password link is a powerful tool for fraudsters who have secured your email ID through nefarious means like phishing. Please ensure the security questions for your account are strong and consistent.
A strong password is useless if a fraudster can answer all your security questions after a quick trip to your social media accounts.
A strong password is useless if a fraudster can answer all your security questions after a quick trip to your social media accounts.
Avoid opening suspicious text, pop-up windows or emails
Cybercriminals typically pretend to be reputable companies, friends, or acquaintances in a fake message, which contains a link to a phishing website.
Do not open suspicious text, pop-up windows or click on links or attachments in emails – just delete them.
Do not open suspicious text, pop-up windows or click on links or attachments in emails – just delete them.
Don’t make financial transactions on open public networks
Free isn’t necessarily better! Most public hotspots in public areas like airports, hotels and restaurants lower their security standards so it becomes easier for guests and travellers to access and use these networks.
Don’t shop with unfamiliar
online retailers
When it comes to e-commerce, shop preferably with familiar companies. If you’re interested in purchasing a product from an unfamiliar retailer, do some research to ensure the business is legit and trustworthy.
Be wary of unusual
payment requests
When you accept a credit card purchase, there is a possibility that the card or card information was stolen and is now being used for fraud. The fraudster can keep racking up charges until the true cardholder notices the unusual activity and disputes the transactions with their bank.
Pro Tip:
Review your monthly credit card statements
You should always be scanning your accounts for fraudulent activity and keeping track of your balance. It’s a good financial practice to monitor your credit card transactions regularly, and it’s easy to do whether you receive paper or digital statements.
Use apps
wisely
If you use mobile apps on your smartphone to access your financial accounts, be sure to password-protect your device!
Every time you download apps or files from an unknown source, you risk loading malicious programs on your phone. Only download legitimate and credible apps from the Google Play Store and Apple Store.
Every time you download apps or files from an unknown source, you risk loading malicious programs on your phone. Only download legitimate and credible apps from the Google Play Store and Apple Store.
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