Cybersecurity Awareness Month: What to do if you are a Victim of a Phishing Scam

Phishing is a cybercriminal’s attempt to send you malware or steal sensitive information from you by pretending to be a legitimate sender like a bank, online store, or even someone you know. It also happens to be one of the most popular cyber scams out there, which means phishing is very common.

Over 3 billion phishing emails are sent every day in Canada! Unfortunately, phishing scams can be easy to fall for if you don’t know how to spot them.

If you become a victim of phishing, here are simple steps you can do to recover and secure your accounts and devices:

• Change affected passwords – You should also update all accounts to use strong and unique passwords. Consider using passphrases made of four or more random words and 15 or more characters for extra security.
• Consider deleting your inactive accounts – If cybercriminals gain access to your accounts, they can send phishing links to your contact list. Deleting or suspending your inactive accounts may prevent this.
• Enable multi-factor authentication – MFA adds an extra layer of security to your accounts and devices. This makes it harder for cybercriminals to access your data, even if they steal your password.
• Check your device for viruses or other malware – If there was a suspicious link or attachment in the email, install anti-virus software and scan your device for viruses that may have been downloaded.
• Call your banking institution – If you share any financial information (like a credit card number), contact your bank. You can recover lost finances and prevent any further losses while monitoring your transactions.
• Report the incident – If you have a Managed Services Provider (MSP) report to them first! You can report phishing scams and other instances of online fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, or calling 1-888-495-8501. You can also report the incident to your local police department.

You have the power to fight phishing scams! The best way to protect yourself and other staff members are to learn how to spot the signs of a scam.