Tips to Train Your Staff to Avoid Phishing and Online Scams

Phishing attacks are the most common security concern that organizations face to keep their data safe. Billions of dollars are lost in damaged reputations and assets every year, and unfortunately, no cybersecurity solution provides 100% protection from phishing scams.

Data thieves and hackers are booming in this digital transformation era, and the trend is not decreasing any time soon. Financial gain is the most important incentive behind these scams. Therefore, organizations need to take precautionary measures by providing employee phishing training to make them aware of the potential attacks and avoid phishing.

Tips to Train Your Staff to Avoid Phishing and Online Scams

To mitigate risk and reduce human error, train your staff to identify phishing and online scams by implementing security awareness programs. Here are 3 tips to avoid phishing.

1. Ways to Confirm

• If you have received a valid email from an unknown sender, confirm that the email address and name of the sender are consistent.
• If there is a link for a website address, check the link directly on the browser instead of clicking it in the email.
• Scan all attachment links before opening them in the email.

2. Never Send Out Sensitive Information

If you have received an unsolicited email from your company’s address or any other trusted organization like your bank, and the email contains an attachment link to provide sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card information, do not open the link and provide that information. Legitimate companies never request sensitive information through emails.

3. Check for Red Flags

• Check your email for poor grammar or misspellings, as these are usually red flags for phishing scams.
• Be wary of emails that are requesting urgent action by inciting fear or contains a threat.

Eventually, it comes to being proactive and consciously avoiding falling victim to phishing scams. Adequate and timely employee phishing training will help reduce the probability of scams.