Claims Corner: Be Cautious of Phishing

By: Marena Jefferson-Williams, Claims Specialist

Please be cautious when making payments online due to the ongoing rise of Phishing.

Phishing is where an attacker attempts to steal your money and or identity. Attackers will present themselves as person, web address, or email address similar to what you have seen on the past. Often times it is hard to notice the difference.

If you ever get an email asking to update and or change your payment information or other confidential information please follow up immediately with a phone call to the person or company you make your payments with. Taking that extra step can catch attackers before money is lost.

Here is an example of a recent claim:
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A customer usually submits their payments every month online. The customer received an email stating the next month when they make a payment please use this link as we have updated our billing system link. Well the person on the other side of that email was Phishing  to see if they could trick the customer into using that link and taking their money. It worked that person sent an email from an almost identical email address the only difference was they had changed an I in the email address to an L. At first glance the customer thought nothing of it, and thought this was in fact the same email address they usually get emails from. It wasn’t until the next month the customer was made aware that the company never received their payment. The customer had then realized they had been a victim of Phishing.  

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