7 Tips on How to Protect Yourself from Online Scams

The most common methods of fraud involve sending emails or SMS messages that deceive the victim into entering their access credentials on a website resembling that of a bank or tax authority. To avoid falling victim to scams, it is advisable to follow these guidelines:

1. Do not use public or shared networks to access Internet Banking when performing a transaction. Ideally, the browser you use should be updated to the latest version to maximize security.
2. To log in to your Internet Banking, type the bank’s web address directly and do not follow links included in emails or SMS messages you receive.
3. Never save your passwords on your phone, tablet, or computer. Access credentials should be changed at least every three months or, at most, every six months.
4. Do not disclose confidential information or identification credentials such as your username and password for Internet/Mobile Banking, your card details and PIN, one-time passwords (OTP), or other codes via phone, email, internet forms, or social media.
5. For your online purchases, choose merchants that provide modern security measures according to international safety standards.
6. Prefer using prepaid cards for online purchases, which are loaded with a specific amount of money, significantly limiting the risk of fraud. It is also recommended to register for banking alert services that send notifications via SMS and email when transactions are made using your card or direct debit from your account. This way, you can quickly detect fraud and take timely actions to block it.
7. Do not leave contactless payment functions enabled via NFC (Near Field Communications) technology when you are not making transactions.

Panagiotis Georgiadis is a Supreme Court Lawyer, Representative and Head of Public Relations at the New Consumers Institute (N.I.N.K.A) based in Thessaloniki, Kazantzakis 4, Postal Code 546 27, Tel.: 231 043 1111