Don’t Be Fooled by Cyber Scams

Fraudulent scams come in all shapes and sizes. If you are scammed, LifeMatters can help. They offer 24/7/365 assistance with managing the legal and financial impact, including identity theft. 

Common scams you may encounter:

• Phishing or smishing. You receive an email or text asking you to click on a link. The message claims you must act fast, or you will lose access to an account or service. Often, the link will route you to a fake payment site or load malware onto your device. From there, the scammer can steal your personal information or even take over your device.
• Spear phishing. You receive a text or email from someone pretending to be a friend or colleague. They ask you to send money, pay a bill, or provide private, personal or business information. Again, the actual intent is to steal money or information or to gain access to a device or a company’s network.
• Social engineering. Scammers may study your social media to spear phish. They may also use this information to target you for specific scams, such as dream job offers, travel opportunities, debt consolidation or investments. Keep in mind that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Five tips to help you avoid common scams:

• If you receive a suspicious email, check the address carefully. Often, it will be similar (but not an exact match) for an organization’s official email.
• If a URL does not start with https://, it may be an unsafe or fraudulent website.
• If the suspicious request is coming from someone you know, check with that person by phone or in person before taking any action. If the message is coming from an organization that you do business with, call or reach out via their official website.
• If you receive a scam email or message on your work email or phone, follow company procedures for reporting the attempt. On personal devices, report and block fraudulent emails or telephone numbers.
• Be cautious about posting identifying information and other personal details on social media sites.

Monthly Features

Don’t forget to check out this month’s webinar along with LifeMatters’ monthly tip – both can be found on the dashboard on www.mylifematters.com, password: Danos1.

LifeMatters Services

If you, or someone in your family, is experiencing difficult times, please contact LifeMatters by phone, 1.800.634.6433, or text “Hello” to 61295 to be connected with a professional counselor. Counselors are available to assist with emotional wellbeing, finances, and legal concerns. This service is available 24/7/365. LifeMatters also has a free app – go to your app store to download.

Contact Danos Human Resources Specialist Emily Knight with questions or feedback at [email protected] or by phone at 985.219.3337.