Malaysians are increasingly going digital today, especially with the acceleration of online banking and online shopping. While the shift to digitalisation has been overwhelmingly positive and offers greater convenience, there are threats that you need to be aware of as you navigate the online space.
To be safe online, knowing how scammers can potentially get your information in the first place is a great pre-emptive action to ensure that you don’t become their next victim. Here’s three ways scammers can get your sensitive information:
1. Phishing
Phishing scams are one of the most common ways cybercriminals can steal your information without your knowledge. As is often the case, targets will receive an email that looks legitimate, maybe it appears to be coming from your bank, and could include a link or attachment. If the unsuspecting person clicks on the link or downloads the attachment, they could have inadvertently opened their device up to viruses or hacking.
Always make sure the email is from a trusted source before clicking on any attachment or link. That means checking things like the email address to make sure it is legitimate and spelled correctly, rather than just designed to ‘seem’ like it’s authentic. If you’re unsure, it’s best to delete it.
2. #TMI – Too Much Information
In the age of social media, we all like to share our latest updates, pictures, videos, and more with our family and friends. Yet, something as simple as displaying or sharing your phone number or email address can open you up to becoming a potential victim.
Case in point, accidentally sharing a screenshot of your latest pay cheque or your new credit card that has your personal details. Alternatively, details such as your birthday or the name of your pet may give clues as to how to answer your security questions or even hack your password.
3. Check Before You Click
Fraudulent websites and apps are another way scammers can get your personal information. By masking as legitimate websites and apps, such as banks or e-commerce brands, unsuspecting victims will input their information thinking it’s legitimate. Shortly after, victims may have the nasty realisation that they’ve been scammed.
To prevent this from happening, Boost recommends that you use only official apps. When using a web browser, ensure there is a lock and https in the web address box.
These are just a handful of ways scammers can gain access to your information without your knowledge. The best way to ensure you don’t fall victim to scammers is to remain vigilant.
At Boost, we safeguard your transactions and data as it is high priority to us, and we hope that these tips will help you have a secure experience the next time you head online.
To stay updated on all our Scam Awareness PSA, stay tuned to Boost’s Newsroom here: https://bit.ly/MyBoostNewsroom
For a comprehensive list of online security tips, visit our support page here: https://bit.ly/NewsroomPSASupport
