Phishing attacks aim to deceive individuals into divulging sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card numbers, or personal data. As technology advances, scammers continually refine their tools and techniques for such attacks. There are several types of phishing, including text phishing, voice phishing or vishing, and email phishing.
Text phishing involves scammers sending fake text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information. Vishing is a phone call version of phishing, typically using a voice message disguised as a financial institution. Email phishing is fake emails trying to pose as trustworthy entities, often using official logos, professional language, or personalization to appear legitimate.
Even though these scams seem authorized, phishing attempts often contain alarming or enticing messages designed to prompt immediate action. When victims are presented with what seems like a great deal for only a short time, this pressures them into making crucial decisions very quickly. With a text message, do not fall for anything asking for details about your account. Real businesses won’t ever ask you to confirm or verify your password or share any account information on SMS. Just because your caller ID displays a phone number or name of a legitimate company you might recognize, it doesn’t guarantee the call is coming from that number.
If you are questioning the call, hang up, and call the institution on its “normal” number and check whether the text or call is from them. Equity Bank has other ways to spot phishing, and resources in case of these situations.
Security precautions can help you protect yourself from social engineering and phishing attempts. Be wary of unsolicited emails, phone calls, or visits from people inquiring about personal or company information, even if the person says they are from a legitimate institution. Never share your login ID or password with anyone, even your network administrator. Never send sensitive information like Social Security numbers or passwords via text or email and avoid clicking links in suspicious emails.
Trustworthy websites use secure sockets layer (SSL) to encrypt information. A site that uses SSL will display “https” rather than “http” in its URL. If you are suspicious of an email request and want to verify it with the individual or company, reach out directly, but do not use the contact information provided in the email.
Being able to spot phishing emails, messages, and phone calls are crucial steps to keep yourself safe. Having protection already in place on all your devices is a good barrier, and proactively safeguards against scammers. Check out Equity Bank’s fraud prevention page for more information on how to spot and protect against scams.