How to protect yourself from a phishing scam

In any given day, you probably send numerous digital messages via email, text message, websites and message-capable apps. Likewise, these contact methods are now all used by scammers to reach you. Their messages are written in ways to try and fool you into providing your banking and personal information, all with the malicious intent to steal from you and commit fraud.

This kind of scam is called phishing, and it's crucial to protect yourself from this cybercrime.

Here's how scammers will target you:

• Using urgent language. Be wary of messages that create a sense of urgency or fear, such as "Your account will be suspended" or "Immediate action required."
• Sending suspicious links. Links that don't match our official website https://www.islandsavings.ca. Always carefully check the spelling in a link (watch for look-alike character too, such a capital "I" and lowercase "l"), and hover over links to see the actual URL before clicking.
• Posing as a legitimate source, such as your bank. These messages often urge you to take immediate action, like verifying your account details, accepting money transfers, or resetting your password, by clicking on a link or downloading an attachment.
• Making spelling and grammar mistakes. Legitimate communications from your bank or a company are usually free of spelling and grammatical errors.
• Requesting personal information. We will never ask you to share sensitive information like passwords, PINs, or one-time codes. Be suspicious about any company contacting you and asking for private information.

Always do this to help safeguard your money:

• Do not respond to unusual senders: Emails or messages from organizations or people you don't know, or from addresses that don't match our official domain https://www.islandsavings.ca, should be ignored.
• Verify the source: If you receive an unexpected or suspicious message and you're not sure if it's legitimate, check with the person or organization directly using contact information you already have or that is on their official website.
• Don't click on links: Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown or suspicious emails.
• Use strong passwords: Ensure your online banking password, and your email password, is strong and unique. To make it harder to crack, we recommend using 12 characters (at minimum) that are not words, and include a combination of letters, numbers and symbols.
• Enable two-factor authentication: This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification in addition to your password. Activate this on any account where it's available.
• Keep software updated: Regularly update your computer and mobile device software to protect against security vulnerabilities.

What to do if you suspect a phishing attempt

• Do not respond or reply to the email or message.
• Report the suspicious activity to us.
• Remove the email or message from your inbox to avoid accidentally clicking on it later.
• Monitor your accounts by regularly checking your online banking for any unauthorized transactions and report them immediately.

By staying vigilant and following these tips, you can protect yourself from phishing scams and keep your banking information secure. Remember, we're always here to help if you have any doubts or concerns about the security of your account. If you have any questions or need further assistance, don't hesitate to reach out.