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Protecting Yourself From Cyber Attacks
Stay-at-home orders and social distancing measures have accelerated the adoption of digital technology and online platforms by the masses. From social media to video conferencing to mobile banking and telemedicine, these new ways to connect are not only convenient, but they’re becoming essential to everyday life.
Fraudsters and cybercriminals now have millions of potential new victims and multiple government agencies are reporting increases in this type of criminal activity. At C&N, we’ve invested in strong cyber-defense systems to protect our customers and we’ve built libraries of resources to share with you. Our goal is to help you stay informed & prepared so you can confidently enjoy the conveniences of modern technology.
By using COVID-19 themed emails or text messages, cybercriminals will try to trick people into giving up their usernames and passwords in an attempt to gain access to their money. Recent statistics show that cyber-attacks are up over 37% and phishing attempts have jumped by 600% in March due to COVID-19. This means that identifying online cybersecurity threats has become more important than ever as we continue to navigate the changes in our lives due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Knowing how to identify these scams is the best way to reduce your risk of an attack. Here are some things to look for anytime you receive an email, phone call or text message from a source you don’t know:
- If you receive an email that triggers an emotional reaction, stop and think. If you don’t know the source, do not click on any links or open any attachments. Delete the email.
- If you receive an email or text message and it sounds too good to be true, do not let your curiosity get the best of you. Do not click on any links.
- If you receive an email that claims it’s an urgent message and you have to act now, stop. This is a red flag.
- If you receive a phone call, text or email message that threatens you or causes you to act out of fear of something bad happening, stop. This is also a red flag.
If you’ve been tricked into supplying your bank account or credit card information, here are some things you can do:
- First, notify your bank. They can help you freeze your debit card or account to make sure no further damage is done and help you file dispute claims. Reporting what happened in a timely manner will increase your chances of recovering your losses and will also mitigate your risk of losing even more.
- Report what happened to the Better Business Bureau Scam™ Tracker at www.bbb.com/scamtracker so they can alert others.
- If you have provided any personal identifying information like your SSN, you may become a victim of identity theft. Visit the Federal Trade Commission™ website at www.ftc.gov for more information on Identify threats.
- Monitor your credit reports by going to www.annualcreditreport.com
- If you found a fraudulent website on Facebook™, you should let Facebook know immediately so others don’t fall prey to the same scam. You can do this at https://www.facebook.com/help/reportlinks.
As we rely more and more on the internet to go about our daily lives, especially in the challenging times we find ourselves in right now, it’s important to stay informed and understand how to protect yourself against cyber fraud. Visit C&N’s webpage at www.cnbankpa.com/coronavirus, where you’ll find valuable resources, such as an article series devoted to Online Security Amidst COVID-19, an article series on The CARES Act, resources for small businesses and much more.
Credits:
Videography: Andrew Moore
Video Editing: Andrew Moore
Anchor: Rhonda Pearson
Produced by Vogt Media
Home Page Sponsors: C&N