It used to be pretty easy to see through those suspicious emails. They were usually full of typos, strange formatting, or showed hundreds of recipients. These days, things are getting trickier. Scams and phishing emails have come a long way, and it's getting tougher to know what's what.
Some emails are so convincing, they could have even the most skeptical among second-guessing their instincts. The good news? We've got tips to help you avoid phishing scams and keep your information safe.
What is phishing?
Phishing isn't a misspelling of a beloved pastime involving a reel and worms, it's a term for scam emails created by cybercriminals intended to gain sensitive information from you, particularly financial information, passwords, and account numbers. Phishing emails are getting better and better at mimicking legitimate organizations, using logos, official-sounding language, and links to websites that look like the real deal.
How to spot phishing
Even with the most sophisticated scam, there are clues that give it away. Here's what to look for:
- Any tone of urgency. Scammers love to get people panicked so they're more willing to take action and follow their steps.
- A strange sender address. It rarely reflects the name in the email signature and looks funky, with symbols and numbers.
- Links and attachments that look off. Pro tip: you can hover over links to preview the website before clicking it. That way you can get a peek and see if things look right. Attachments should never be opened unless you're sure who's sending it.
- Requests for sensitive information. No matter how convincing their email looks, they're only after one thing and that's your personal information. Social Security numbers, account numbers, and passwords.
What we won't do
It’s helpful to know what you can expect from any communication you might receive from us at Golden 1. Some of the red flags mentioned earlier are exactly what you can be sure we won’t do. We will never use urgent or threatening language, regardless of the reason we’re reaching out. And we will never, we repeat, never ask for sensitive information like your password, account number, or other personal details.
Protecting yourself
Being aware, trusting your instincts, and thinking twice before you click are your best defenses against dubious emailers. If you're suspicious even in the slightest, you can verify the message by contacting us directly through our Contact Us page or by calling the number on the back of your card.
Here are a few more ways to protect yourself from phishing scams:
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your accounts for an added layer of security.
- Use strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts and update them regularly.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unexpected attachments.
- Keep your devices and software up to date to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Use antivirus and anti-malware tools to detect and block threats.
- Monitor your accounts regularly for any unusual activity.
- Report phishing attempts by forwarding them to reportphishing@golden1.com.
While scammers may continue to evolve, staying vigilant puts you in control so you can confidently say, “Nice try, cybercriminals.” For more tips, visit our Fraud and Security Center.
