Safeguarding Against Digital Scams
At Cy-Fair FCU, safeguarding your financial well-being is our priority. In today's digital landscape, scammers exploit our reliance on smartphones through tactics like phishing, aiming to extract sensitive data. Whether via vishing (voice phishing) or smishing (SMS phishing), these attacks threaten your personal and financial security.
Phishing scams often impersonate legitimate organizations, such as credit unions, through emails or texts, urging recipients to disclose private information. Scammers use scare tactics, creating urgency to prompt immediate action, like claiming account termination unless action is taken swiftly. Vishing involves fraudsters posing as representatives of companies, prompting individuals to divulge personal details over the phone. Smishing uses text messages to deceive recipients into clicking malicious links or providing sensitive information under the guise of urgent account issues.
To combat these threats, it's crucial to exercise caution. Avoid clicking on links or responding to messages from unknown sources. If confronted with a potential scam, refrain from providing information and disconnect the call if it's vishing or disregard instructions if it's smishing. Report incidents to Cy-Fair FCU immediately.
Social engineering is the art of influencing people into making mistakes. Attackers exploit cognitive biases, mental shortcuts our brains use to make decisions. Authority bias leads people to comply with requests from authority figures. Scarcity bias creates urgency, as in phishing attacks. Reciprocity bias leads people to feel obligated to return favors, exploited by attackers offering help in exchange for sensitive information. To defend against social engineering, slow down, avoid assumptions, verify requests, and think critically.
Phishing is the top attack method for social engineers. Check for urgency, threatening language, unrealistic promises, suspicious links, or unexpected senders. Hover over links to verify URLs and never open suspicious attachments. Remember, phishing combines manipulation and deception; stay alert and report attacks immediately.
Social media oversharing provides scammers with personal data. Limit sharing and vet connection requests. Disinformation and deepfakes spread false information; think critically before sharing polarizing content. Stay vigilant to protect yourself online.
Remember, Cy-Fair FCU will never request personal information via phone or email, as we already possess this data. If unsure about the legitimacy of a message, contact us directly at (281) 571-5000 for verification. Your vigilance and proactive approach are essential in safeguarding your financial well-being. Thank you for your continued trust in Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union.