How to recognise phishing emails? How to report them? Your KBC insurance agent gives you specific tips to recognise these messages and how to report them.
Nowadays you come across them on a daily basis: malicious emails asking for your personal data. Also, the times of emails announcing a legacy of several hundred thousand euros are long gone. Today we increasingly see e-mail traffic of which it is difficult to determine whether it is fraudulent or not.
All these types of emails are called phishing. As a KBC insurance agent, we would like to give you a few tips on how to recognise phishing emails and prevent their consequences.
What is a phishing email?
A phishing email is a fake email that is sent with the intention of obtaining your data. In many cases, bank details are requested, but passwords and money are also often stolen.
In addition, phishing does not only happen via email. You should also be alert to these types of messages by telephone, WhatsApp or text message.
With a wrong click on a link or attachment, you can allow scammers to collect private data or install malicious programs on your device.
Why do you receive phishing mail?
When you receive a phishing email, you don't have to expect the worst. The sender has not yet been able to obtain your data at that time. There are many ways to obtain an email address and it can often be found on the internet.
How can you recognise such a phishing email?
Phishing emails can be recognised in many ways. Some of the main concerns are the following:
- A phishing mail comes unexpectedly and for no reason.
- The e-mail is often full of language errors and is written strangely.
- You are rarely addressed personally. A vague title or your e-mail address as a title is a sign that something is not right.
- It is best to look up a sender whose e-mail address you do not know.
- Cyber criminals often use the name of a well-known company in their email address. However, the attentive reader can see that it is spelled slightly differently.
- Is there a link in the email? Then hover over it with your mouse, then you will see the full URL and you can determine whether the link is suspicious.
- Is there an email in your spam? Then you can assume that it cannot be trusted.
What if I have provided my details?
Have you clicked on a link, passed on bank details or passwords? Then warn your friends, call CardStop and immediately change your password in all places where you just use that password.
What can you do if you receive phishing emails?
- Do not click on links in the email
- Do not forward the mail to other contacts
- Do not enter any personal information
- Did you receive a suspicious email from the bank? Please notify the bank as soon as possible.