Phishing scams are continually playing a key role in this digital dominated world. And nobody wants to become a victim of it. These kinds of threats enter our system in many forms, such as ads, emails, video calls, and even phone calls. The people behind these scams are very smart and know to break the code of the system. They use spam, websites, email messages, coupon codes to steal the information of the users. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid becoming a victim yourself. 

5 Common Phishing Scams, and How to Protect Them:

Generally, phishing scams look real; it is important to know the difference between the real and fraudulent notifications, and how to protect oneself from them. Here are the list of the five common phishing scam and the ways to protect yourself against them. 

1.Email Phishing Scams 

An email phishing scam is a fraudulent message that sends to the thousands of users to steal their personal and professional information like, bank account details, phone number, usernames, credit card account, and other sensitive information. This phishing email contains a fake link, designed like a legit site. In case, a user clicks on the link, and creates an account; he will become a victim of the identity or online financial theft. 

The Best Way to Protect Yourself From Email Phishing Scams:

• Do not click on the link that comes from an unknown source if it looks suspicious, block/report the account immediately. 

• Be elegant and pay attention when scrolling the email list. Phishers are very smart and intelligent; they use spoofed email addresses similar to the actual site. 

2. Vishing Scams 

Vishing is another powerful phone scam, in which a scammer uses social engineering to get you the personal information and financial details. The scammer calls you and says your account is going to be blocked if you don't share your unique ID. Warning: it's probably malware. 

It's getting very easy for the scammers to contact you because of Voice Over Internet Protocol technology. To avoid such kinds of scamming, install a true caller application. 

How to Protect Yourself From Vishing Scams?

• Never give personal and professional information on the phone. Verify the website's number, if it sounds genuine then share, but at your own risk. We never advise our reader to share the information to the incoming calls. 

• Never call back to the number if they ask you to do so. It is kind of a trap. 

3. Tech Support Cold Call Scams 

Tech support cold calls are when scammers call you and pretend to be representatives of the reputed tech company. They advise you to install the application that gives them remote access.. In the event, if you install the application in the system, you will face a huge data loss. 

How to Protect Yourself From tech support cold call Scams?

• If a pop-up appears on your screen with a phone number, never make a call on that number. 

• Never allow remote access to your computer. 

• Turn on A2Z defender real-time antivirus to protect your system from the scam malware. 

4. Pop-Up Warning Scams 

When you browse the internet, suddenly a pop-up appears on your screen and requests you to take action. Malicious pop-ups are so stubborn, making it difficult for the users to leave the site or close the pop-up window. Often cyber hackers create pop-ups that look like they come from reliable sources. The reason why cyber hackers create pop-ups to make money by stealing financial information. Poor sentences, grammar mistakes, and unprofessional graphics suggest that it is a fake pop-up. No matter what services you are using, their tech support service provider never encourages you to call them via the pop-up. So, ignore the pop-ups that contain phone numbers. 

How to help protect yourself against pop-up scams:

• Read the message closely. If it's containing grammar mistakes, or poorly designed then avoid this pop-up notification. 

• Remember, when you feel something suspicious, just close the browser, restart the computer, and then back to work. 

• Use the advanced internet security system like A2Z defender that offers you seamless and protected internet experience. 

5.  Fake Search Result Scams 

Cybercriminals use paid search ads for their "Support Service" because it looks legit in the users' eyes. The paid listing appears on the first page of Google. These results will look like real and authentic things. Unfortunately, when you click on the ad, the malware will get installed in your system and steal the data. 

How to help protect yourself against fake search result scams

• Examine the URL of the site closely. Developers of the fake websites use typosquatting, where they register a domain name that looks similar to the URL of the authentic site. 

• Use a secure search engine for browsing. 

What to do if you have been scammed?

If you find yourself as a victim of online theft, without thinking much, do the below-mentioned tasks:- 

• Change the password of all the social media accounts, system passwords, and financial institutions. 

• Run the A2Z defender software that will detect the virus.

• Contact your bank and report that you may have been the victim of identity theft. 

• Install an advanced internet security system like A2Z defender to save oneself from complex threats. 

The rise of phishing attacks has been increasing day by day. And installing the advanced antivirus has become crucial. In order to avoid falling victim to phishing attacks, it is essential to install comprehensive antivirus, like A2Z Defender.