How to identify phishing?

Phishing is when a fraudster attempts to impersonate a merchant or a government institution to obtain your personal information. This type of fraud can lead to identity theft, the hijacking of your digital accounts (such as social media), or significant financial losses.

Do not click on attachments or links sent to you

Be cautious, do not click on attachments or links sent in emails or text messages.

Delete the email or text message received

To avoid accidentally clicking on links in the future, it’s better to delete the email or text message.

Do not respond to requests you receive

Not even to say that you know it’s a scam. Fraudsters may keep lists of people who have responded and target them further.
More solicitations = higher risk of falling for the scam.

Do not grant access to your computer to a stranger

Some tactics involve contacting you to convince you that your computer is infected with a virus and asking for permission to access it to fix the issue. Fraudsters will use this opportunity to hold your files hostage and demand money.

Call the organization directly if they ask for your personal or banking information

If in doubt, search for the phone number or email address on the official website. Do not rely on the contact details provided to you.

BE VIGILANT

If there’s only one thing to remember, it’s that vigilance is the most effective defense, no matter the scheme used by malicious individuals.

We also asked our colleague Sara Eve Levac, a lawyer with Option Consommateurs, to tell us about ransomware, a type of fraud that is still little-known. Find out more in the video below.