Consumer Fraud Prevention Tips

What is a Phishing, Vishing and Smishing?

  • Phishing is a form of social engineering.
  • Vishing is the social engineering approach that leverages voice communication.
  • Smishing is a form of social engineering that exploits SMS, or text, messages.


What are common indicators of phishing attempts?

  • Suspicious sender's address
  • Generic greetings and signature
  • Spoofed hyperlinks and websites
  • Spelling and layout
  • Suspicious attachments


Adopt Good Security Habits

  • Improve password security:
    • Create a strong password
    • Consider using a password manager
    • Use multi-factor authentication, if available
    • Use security questions properly
    • Create unique accounts for each user per device
  • Choose secure networks
  • Keep all of  your personal electronic device software current
  • Be suspicious of unexpected emails 


Cybersecurity for Electronic Devices - How Can You Protect Yourself?

  • Remember physical security
  • Keep software up to date
  • Use strong passwords
  • Disable remote connectivity
  • Encrypt files
  • Be cautious of public Wi-Fi networks
For additional consumer fraud prevention information, visit Identity Theft and Online Security-Federal Trade Commission.