Above: Illustration by VladGrin/DepositPhotos

The Caribbean Chapter of the ISC2 has issued the following alert and tips to guide internet users in avoiding information and identity theft online.

What is Phishing?

Phishing is when a scammer pretends to be someone you trust, like your bank or a company you use, to trick you into sharing personal information such as:

• Passwords
• Bank details
• Credit card numbers

These scams often come as fake emails, text messages, or phone calls.

Why You Should Care

Phishing scams can…

• Steal your money
• Take your identity
• Give hackers access to your accounts

How to Spot a Phishing Scam

Strange Greetings

• Messages saying “Dear Friend”, “Hello” instead of your name.
• Bad grammar or spelling:
• Emails that look unprofessional or have language or grammatical mistakes.

Urgent Requests

• Emails saying things like, “Act now or your account will be closed!”

Suspicious Links or Attachments

• Links that don’t lead to official websites.
• Attachments that ask for private information.
• How to protect yourself

Check the Sender’s Email Address

• Make sure the email address is from the real company, like @yourbank.com.

Don’t Click on Suspicious Links

• Hover over links to see where they go. If it looks strange, don’t click.

Never Share Personal Information

• Real companies will never ask for passwords or bank details through email.
• Visit websites directly
• Type the web address in your browser instead of clicking on links in emails.
• Report suspicious emails:
• If you think an email is fake, delete it and report it to the company or your bank.

Examples of Phishing Messages

• “Your Account is Locked”
• Your bank account has been suspended. Click here to unlock it.
• “You’ve Won a Prize!”
• Congratulations! Click here to claim your reward!
• “Security Update Needed”
• Please update your details now to keep your account secure.
• “Your Package is Stuck”
• Please click on the link below to track your package.

What to Do If You Get a Suspicious Email

• Don’t click on any links or open attachments.
• Delete the email.
• Report it to the company or your bank.
• If you think you shared information by mistake, change your passwords and call your bank immediately.

WhatsApp scam specifics

Common scams to look out for

• Fake Emergency Requests: Messages pretending to be from family or friends asking for money because of a lost phone or urgent problem.
• Prize Scams: Messages saying you won a prize or gift and asking for your personal details or clicking on a link.
• Fake WhatsApp Support: Messages claiming to be from WhatsApp asking for your verification code or account information.
• Investment Scams: Promises of high returns on investments if you send money quickly.
• Too Good to be True: Anything that sounds too good to be true is often a scam so stop and think twice about it.

Beware of…

• Urgent Requests: Scammers often pressure you to act quickly.
• Asking for Personal Info: Never share passwords, verification codes, or bank details.
• Suspicious Links: Avoid clicking on links from unknown or untrusted sources.
• Unknown Senders: Be cautious with messages from numbers you don’t recognize.

When you suspect it’s a scam

• Do Not Share Information: Keep your passwords and codes to yourself.
• Block and Report: Block the sender and report the scam to WhatsApp.
• Ignore Suspicious Links: Don’t click on links or download files from unknown sources.

Examples of scams

• Fake Emergency: “Hi, it’s me. I lost my phone and need money urgently. Please help!” Always check if this is real by calling the person directly.
• Free Gifts or Deals: “Congratulations! You won a free gift. Click here to claim.” Never click on links from unknown sources.