Everyone’s getting online. It makes life easier, more productive, better, and more fun. However, with the rise of technology, cybercriminals are getting more active than ever. As a result, India is witnessing a rapid rise in online scams.

The growth of phishing scams in India is as shocking as it is astonishing. India currently ranks as the third-biggest target globally for phishing attacks. Everyone is a target. One would expect the technology sector to be the most resilient, yet it has experienced nearly 33 percent of these attacks.

Is there something we can do to prevent it? Yes, if we will keep ourselves informed.

How do Scammers Hide the Phishing Scam Hook?

Phishing is a social engineering technique in which scammers impersonate real people or companies. They pretend to be a legitimate source, hiding behind falsified logos and fake company branding. They contact their victims by email, or social media messages.

The aim is to trick you into giving them personal details. They want your passwords, credit card and banking information, or personal identification numbers (PINs).

The phishing email or message usually includes a URL. The link takes you to—what appears to be—your bank, Facebook, or shopping site. It’s a good copy of the original, good enough to fool you into thinking it’s the company’s login page. When you log into your account and enter your password, they capture the keystrokes. Now that they have your logins, they can immediately use them to take over your real account. There, they can make transactions, steal your contact list and home and work addresses, or use your account to log into your shopping or other linked accounts.

Alternatively, the message could have an attachment. When you open it, spyware launches to capture your device. Once infected, scammers will receive precise information on everything you do, watch, say, or send on your device.

How to Avoid Getting Hooked

SMS messages (also called smishing) and emails are the most popular forms of phishing. It can be hard to spot a fake. Scammers and cyber attackers use social engineering because it’s an extremely effective way to influence a person to take action. They have adopted several proven manipulation techniques to hook their victims.

For example, it’s hard to resist clicking on a link in a message like: “Your password has expired. Click here to change it now.” Most people would rush to fix the problem, stepping into the trap. Fortunately, there are some signs and giveaways that might warn you.

• Are they urging you to take immediate action? Attackers rely on fear to drive people into making fast decisions.
• Check for spelling and grammatical errors no matter what language the message is in. Legitimate companies would not send sloppy, error-ridden communications. There’s an additional risk factor in India for people who speak English as a second or third language.
• Be wary of unexpected attachments or links. Use your VPN’s attachment filter, which is designed to protect you from phishing attempts. It scans your files during download and blocks malicious content before it reaches your device.
• If the letter is addressed to “dear Customer,” it’s probably a generic phishing message, not a message from a real company.
• Do you know the sender? Be suspicious of special offers that appear from nowhere.

Technology That Keeps You Safe

Use a VPN to hide your IP address and improve your online privacy. Nowadays, VPN meaning is familiar to most internet users. It stands for a virtual private network that encrypts your internet connection and provides a layer of security against phishing attacks. It does not replace a complete antivirus, but an advanced VPN offers Threat Protection against malicious attachments and phishing links. It also protects your sensitive data while you work and play online.

• Use a password manager. You have to use long, complex passwords for all your online accounts.
• Add 2FA or MFA to all sensitive accounts. Even if attackers steal your password (for example, via a successful phishing attack), they’ll need to provide additional proof of identity before being allowed to log in.
• Keep your software updated to keep security vulnerabilities and cyberattacks at bay.

What to Do if You Fell for an Online Scam?

Stop all communication with the scammer. The next step is to contact your bank or Payment Service Provider’s 24-hour customer service number. Explain the event and ask them to block your account immediately. It’s inconvenient, but it might prevent unauthorized transactions.

• Change your passwords.
• Keep all relevant tracking numbers and documents as proof.
• Report online scams to the Indian government’s dedicated cyber crime cells (cyber cell).
• File an online complaint with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in).

Stay Vigilant, Stay Safe

There’s no stopping our rush to an increasingly digital world, but this trend has some dangerous drawbacks. We must learn to stay vigilant against online scams and phishing attempts. Stay aware of the latest scamming tactics. Use a premium antivirus and VPN to protect your sensitive information from falling into the hands of cybercriminals.