Are you likely to fall prey to
online frauds? Find out
ET Bureau|
Aug 01, 2016, 06.30 AM IST
Take this quiz and find out if you are a sitting duck when
it comes to online fraud.
1.Do you have the same passwords for all your accounts?
If yes : It's impossible to remember the passwords for all online accounts, be it e-mails, banking or social media accounts. A single password for all accounts makes you susceptible to fraud.
You are also unsafe if you have stored the passwords online, on mail or cloud. A good option is to have a password manager app, which digitally secures your passwords and can be accessed by one master password.
If yes : It's impossible to remember the passwords for all online accounts, be it e-mails, banking or social media accounts. A single password for all accounts makes you susceptible to fraud.
You are also unsafe if you have stored the passwords online, on mail or cloud. A good option is to have a password manager app, which digitally secures your passwords and can be accessed by one master password.
How to select a
password manager
A
.If the service provider stores your password vault on cloud, ensure it keeps
only encrypted copy and can't access master password.
B. Pick a password manager app that offers two-step verification or authentication for extra layer of security.
C .Choose an app that automatically logs you off after some time of inactivity.
D .Use a complex master password, which has lower and upper case letters, characters and digits.
B. Pick a password manager app that offers two-step verification or authentication for extra layer of security.
C .Choose an app that automatically logs you off after some time of inactivity.
D .Use a complex master password, which has lower and upper case letters, characters and digits.
2.Do you open every mail with
attachment from unknown senders? If yes :
You have set yourself up for
phishing and infecting your computer with virus. This is the easiest way to
install malware in your comp. Do not open mails, especially attachments, if you
can't identify the sender or the mail looks suspicious.
How to identify junk mail
A .Check the subject line. If it says 'urgent', 'you've won', 'verify', etc, delete it. These are ways to catch your attention.
B. Check sender name. If you don't know the person, but the subject line is personal or urgent, it's a hoax.
C. If the mail addresses you with generic terms like 'dear friend' or 'colleague', it could be fake.
D .If the mail specifically urges you to open the attachment, don't do it.
How to identify junk mail
A .Check the subject line. If it says 'urgent', 'you've won', 'verify', etc, delete it. These are ways to catch your attention.
B. Check sender name. If you don't know the person, but the subject line is personal or urgent, it's a hoax.
C. If the mail addresses you with generic terms like 'dear friend' or 'colleague', it could be fake.
D .If the mail specifically urges you to open the attachment, don't do it.
3.Do you have the provision to wipe
your data via remote if it gets stolen?
If no:
If no:
If your phone is stolen, all your
information, including passwords and logins stored on mail or elsewhere, is
open to use by fraudsters. Some phones have an in-built provision to remotely
erase or lock the data on the phone. You can also install apps to do so.
4.Do you carry out transactions on
your mobile phone over public Wi-Fi?
If yes: If you have paid a bill or even checked your bank account on your smartphone, say, at an airport via Wi-Fi connection, you have invited scamsters to gain access to information by hacking your login and password and carrying out transactions from your account.
If yes: If you have paid a bill or even checked your bank account on your smartphone, say, at an airport via Wi-Fi connection, you have invited scamsters to gain access to information by hacking your login and password and carrying out transactions from your account.
5.Do you cover the ATM keypad while
keying in your PIN?
If no: Fraudsters can steal your PIN from an ATM by installing a secret camera or a fake keypad over the real one, and using skimmers in the slot that reads your card's magnetic strip. The skimmer copies card's information when you swipe it. This can be used to clean your account.
How to detect an ATM skimmer
If no: Fraudsters can steal your PIN from an ATM by installing a secret camera or a fake keypad over the real one, and using skimmers in the slot that reads your card's magnetic strip. The skimmer copies card's information when you swipe it. This can be used to clean your account.
How to detect an ATM skimmer
A. Scan the machine. If the card reader is a different colour
than the machine, or has a strange alignment, don't use it.
B. Compare all the ATMs in the booth. If one seems different in colour or alignment, avoid it.
C. Move the card reader slot. The machine is fixed firmly and no part should move or make a sound. If it does, it has been tampered with.
D. Check the keypad. If it's thicker, of a strange colour or askew, don't key in the PIN. A fake keypad is placed over the real one.
E. Look around for tiny cameras at the top of the machine or near the keypad.
B. Compare all the ATMs in the booth. If one seems different in colour or alignment, avoid it.
C. Move the card reader slot. The machine is fixed firmly and no part should move or make a sound. If it does, it has been tampered with.
D. Check the keypad. If it's thicker, of a strange colour or askew, don't key in the PIN. A fake keypad is placed over the real one.
E. Look around for tiny cameras at the top of the machine or near the keypad.
6.Do you have antivirus software on
all devices including your smartphone?
If no: Most people have anti-virus software on PC or laptops, but none on smartphones, which they are increasingly using for all financial transactions. This makes it a sitting duck for phishing and hacking attempts, allowing access to critical financial information stored on your phone.
If no: Most people have anti-virus software on PC or laptops, but none on smartphones, which they are increasingly using for all financial transactions. This makes it a sitting duck for phishing and hacking attempts, allowing access to critical financial information stored on your phone.
7.Do you routinely post personal
data on social media like Facebook or put up all financial details on consumer
complaint sites?
If yes : Just because you are comfortable with your close set of friends and family over Facebook doesn't mean you can post all personal information. It's a surefire way for scamsters to misuse the information. Also be careful not to reveal too much on complaint sites.
If yes : Just because you are comfortable with your close set of friends and family over Facebook doesn't mean you can post all personal information. It's a surefire way for scamsters to misuse the information. Also be careful not to reveal too much on complaint sites.
8.If you get a call apparently from
your banker or insurance company, do you volunteer information?
If yes: Be very alert and suspicious of anyone who seeks personal financial information over the phone. No bank, insurance company or other financial firms will ask you for critical details over the phone. So either disconnect immediately or question the person in great detail to identify fraud.
If yes: Be very alert and suspicious of anyone who seeks personal financial information over the phone. No bank, insurance company or other financial firms will ask you for critical details over the phone. So either disconnect immediately or question the person in great detail to identify fraud.
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