Don’t Take the Bait: How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams
Receive an unexpected call, text, or email? Think twice before responding.
Phishing is a fraudulent attempt to trick people into sharing their personal information. Here are some tips to recognize and avoid these common scams.
Recognizing Phishing Scams
Scammers use emails, text messages, phone calls, and other message types, to trick you into sharing private information, such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details. Here are some signs the message you received may be phishing.
- They create a sense of urgency with a problem that requires your immediate action. Was the call, email, or text unexpected? Is the caller pressuring you to act quickly? If the answer is ‘yes’ it could be a scam.
They pretend to be a trusted source, such as a financial institution or government agency, to gain your trust and convince you to share personal information. If you’re unsure, don’t respond. Don’t be afraid to hang up or stop replying.
They contact you unexpectedly. For example, if you receive a text message stating you have an undelivered package but you weren’t even waiting on a package, think twice before you click a link or respond with any personal information. It could likely be a scam.
Five Tips to Avoid Phishing Scams
In addition to the actions outlined above, follow these best practices to help protect yourself from phishing scams:
- Avoid clicking email and text links requesting personal information and never open unexpected attachments.
- Do not respond to unknown numbers. Government agencies and financial institutions will never call you to verify your account information or ask for personal details. If you’re unsure, contact the business or visit the official website.
- Regularly update passwords and avoid using previous passwords or easily guessable information, such as birthdays or names.
- Activate Real-time Card Alerts* on your Security Service debit and credit cards to receive notifications when your card is used online, in-store, by telephone, at an ATM, or internationally, or for any transactions that exceed your set limit.
- Keep your contact information current so we can notify you about any suspicious activity.
How to Report a Phishing Scam
To report a phishing scam, contact the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you think you have been the victim of a scam or believe your Security Service account has been compromised, contact us immediately at 1.888.415.7878.
For more information and resources about fraud and scam prevention, visit our Fraud Awareness page.
