In our previous post, we gave you a few tips to avoid phishing. In this post, we will give you recommendations about what to do if you have been scammed.
What to do if you have been phished
If you have been the victim of a phishing scam, Encripto recommends you:
1. Change your passwords
Make sure you change the passwords you use for online banking, credit card and other important accounts. We recommend that you read our post World Password Day for useful information about choosing strong passwords.
2. Run a full system scan for viruses on your computer
After a phishing attack, it is recommended that you run a full system scan for viruses on your computer. Unfortunately, anti-virus cannot ensure that your devices are 100% free from malicious software (malware). However, it may help uncover known viruses and typical attack tools. If you need help while choosing a suitable anti-virus solution, Encripto recommends that you check the AV-TEST Institute for more information.
3. Report to the police
It is important to report any incidents of cybercrime to your local police. Individual cases could become part of a larger investigation in Norway or abroad. Taken together, separate cases could provide important information that might help stop the criminal activity.
4. Contact the company that was spoofed
Report the phishing scheme to the company that the phisher impersonated. Follow their instructions for safeguarding your information and your account.
5. Contact your bank and credit card provider if your bank account or your card have been compromised
Report your situation. Study your bank/card statements and look for any unauthorized or suspicious charges. Many banks can offer you an account or credit monitoring service, in which you will receive notifications when any kind of transaction is made with your account. This sort of service can allow you to quickly detect unauthorized or suspicious charges.
The volume of this type of scams increases in the pre-Christmas and Christmas season. So, Encripto hopes that you take our advices into account.
If you liked this topic, we recommend that you read our post Phishing: What Do You Need to Know? – Part 1 and Phishing: What Do You Need to Know? – Part 2