#Phishing #scam #France #retiree #tells #stripped
Scammers always find a way to get away with it. This time, they use a scheme called “phishing scam”. We take stock.
How were the Varois scammed?
Now it is through the phishing scam that the thieves make victims. Lately, this practice has become fashionable. A retired Toulonnais testifies to this. He was a victim of this scam last fall. Therefore, he wishes to warn against this type of scam. His testimony was passed on by our colleagues at Nice-Matin.
The sixty-year-old admits having written down the number of his bank’s incident service in his directory in case he had to object. And surprise, the number in question called him first. According to the Varois, during his telephone exchange, the supposed incident service of his bank informed them of fraudulent transactions in his account and that it was in progress.
According to him, he really believed what he was told. Therefore, he followed to the letter all the instructions given by his interlocutor. He was asked for several pieces of information, namely a verification code sent by SMS, the confidential code of his card, etc. Then, they told him that they will contact him quickly to change his bank card. The pensioner says that the person on the phone told him that they were going to send him a person and that they gave him a file number.
Two days later, at his home, “a man with a black briefcase, properly dressed” showed up with his file number. He had come to retrieve the victim’s bank card. Then, in his account, withdrawals and purchases appear. An amount of 5700 euros was debited.
It is there that he contacts the famous number “La Poste Vol” and realizes the scam of which he had just been a victim. The man was dismayed to learn from the actual incident department that they do not use this number to communicate with customers and that the opposition center number has been spoofed. The Nice-Matin newspaper talks about a trick called spoofing.
On October 6, 2021, the pensioner filed a complaint. Unfortunately, his bank considered that he had shown great recklessness and therefore the sum was never reimbursed.
What is identity theft?
Increasingly common on social networks, spoofing is a stratagem that consists of disguising a communication or an identity by making it appear that the source is trustworthy. The usurpation of the opposition center of a bank is an example of this.
There are three types of phishing used by cybercriminals: email, aliases, and IP address. Identity theft is all about damaging people’s reputations and stealing from them. This cyber attack often results in a serious and damaging data breach for both individuals and businesses. It is a dangerous attack.
Can identity theft be avoided?
Good news ! Yes, a phishing attack can be prevented. The site lebigdata.fr offers advice. The site recommends watching out for signs that someone is impersonating you. For example, in email phishing, signs such as unusual grammar or bad spelling should be considered.
One might also notice awkward language. Counterfeiters often send urgent messages to encourage victims to take immediate action without paying attention. If we pay attention to the sender’s email address, we might see that it is different from the organization you are trying to hijack. Letters may be missing. Avast antivirus alerts when there is URL hijacking and branding or when attachments are strange.
How to prevent identity theft?
To prevent phishing attacks, several tools can be used, including the spam filter, which prevents phishing emails from reaching your inbox. Network operators also use similar tools to block unwanted calls on users’ phones.
Practices like avoiding clicking directly on a link also reduce the risk of being attacked by counterfeiters. Instead, manual entry is recommended. Opening unexpected attachments should also be avoided. Especially if your file extension is unusual. And the classic advice, change your passwords regularly, find strong, unguessable passwords. It will improve cybersecurity.
You also have to make sure that the IP address is always hidden during browsing. And with every notable phishing attempt, you need to be informed to prevent future attacks. If you are afraid of bank identity theft, do not hesitate to consult your advisor.