How to Spot and Avoid Phishing Scams

Have you ever received an email or text that somehow just feels wrong? Maybe it was addressed to you and claimed to be from a company you knew, but something didn’t seem right. Chances are, it was a phishing scam.

What's phishing?

In phishing, fraudsters send an email that appears to be from a legitimate business inviting you to click a link. This link takes you to a fake website where you may be tricked into entering personal information, such as passwords or credit card details. Once the scammers have this information, they can use your accounts — or even open new ones in your name.

How to protect yourself:  

Think before you link: If you receive an unexpected email or text from a company, don't click any links. Instead, contact the company's customer service department to verify the communication. Use contact information from the company's website — not the suspicious email or text.

Look for misspelledhorte or sned domains: Scammers may use a web address that's off by a single character or shorten a link — making it hard to verify. 

Be cautious with email links: Make it a habit to hover over a link to see the full web address before clicking it.

Beware of social media phishing: Always be cautious of links shared by someone you don't know. If a message from a family member or friend seems unusual, their account could have been compromised — contact them directly to be sure.

Take action

Scammers continually find new ways to trick even the smartest digital natives. If you fall victim to a phishing scam, don't be embarrassed. Report it to the companies where the fraud occurred, freeze your accounts with them — and alert TransUnion Kenya immediately to protect your data.

Learn more, get a free credit report and protect your private information with TransUnion Nipashe today.