Cyber Security: Phishing Scams

Phishing emails are a common tactic used by cyber-criminals to trick users into revealing their personal information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or social security numbers. These emails often appear to be legitimate, but they are designed to steal your information or infect your computer with malware.

Protect Yourself Against Phishing

We have been informed that several of our AccessMail customers have received phishing emails from scammers pretending to work for Access Communications. The attackers want your AccessMail username and password and are using several tactics to try and catch you off-guard which include:

• > Using compromised email accounts to send out these phishing emails, which may belong to one of your business or personal contacts
• > Threatening termination of your account if you don’t respond
• > Asking you to click on a link and log in to view a confidential document stored in Dropbox, Google Drive, or other cloud storage services
• > Impersonating legitimate organizations, such as Amazon or Facebook

Phishing emails tend to be threatening, or it has a sense of urgency within the email. Responding to one could allow your account to be compromised, and your information stolen.

SEAR the PHISH

To prevent phishing, remember to SEAR the email before responding.

• STOP: Don’t panic and don’t be too quick to click on email links even if the message looks urgent and threatening.
• EXAMINE: Look at the email closely. Does the message look suspicious, does the link look unusual, and does the request make sense?
• ASK: Question the sender (if you know him/her personally). Check with Access Customer Care to determine if the email is legitimate or not.
• REPORT: Notify us if you receive any Access Communications-related phishing emails by forwarding them to phishing@myaccess.coop.

Always remember that Access Communications will not arbitrarily solicit personal information from you. You should never reply to those requests. If you think you responded to a phishing email, then change your password immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Phishing Scams:

Q: What is phishing?
A: Phishing is a deceptive technique used by cybercriminals to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card details, or personal data.

Q: How do phishing attacks occur?
A: Phishing attacks typically involve fraudulent emails, text messages, or websites that mimic trusted entities to trick victims into clicking on malicious links, downloading malware, or providing sensitive information.

Q: How can I identify a phishing email or message?
A: Look out for suspicious email addresses, grammatical errors, urgent or threatening language, requests for personal information, or unexpected attachments or links. Be cautious of emails that create a sense of urgency or offer enticing rewards.

Q: What should I do if I receive a suspected phishing email?
A: Do not click on any links or download attachments. Instead, independently verify the authenticity of the email or message by contacting the supposed sender directly using trusted contact information.

Q: How can I protect myself from phishing attacks?
A: Be cautious and skeptical of unsolicited messages. Keep your devices and software up to date, use reliable security software, enable spam filters, and regularly back up your data. Educate yourself about common phishing techniques and stay informed about the latest threats.