Protect yourself from phishing
Phishing is a common internet scam that uses official-looking email messages and websites to trick you into sharing personal information or paying money. Criminals use this kind of scam to commit identity theft and fraud.
How to identify a phishing attempt
Be on the lookout for any email or website that asks for personal information, and watch for these red flags before sharing any information electronically.
- Mistakes in grammar or spelling. Real organizations do mess up once in a while, but if the message is so full of errors your elementary school teacher wouldn't accept it, it's likely a scam.
- Fishy to/from address. If the sender claims to be an official company, check the "From" address. If the email comes from a random gmail account or is misspelled or odd, then something's afoot. Pay attention to the "To" field as well. Is your specific email address listed? If not, the message could be a phishing attempt.
- No personal information in the email. Most legitimate institutions have your information on file and will address you by name. An email that begins with "Dear Valued Customer" is not always a scam, but should be looked at more closely. At the same time, keep in mind that phishers can mine public records and social networking sites for personal details, so don't assume a message is safe just because it contains your name.
- Requests for personal information. Sensitive information such as passwords, bank account numbers, and social security numbers should NEVER be sent via email. Quantum Fiber would never ask for personal or financial information by email, and neither would your bank or other legitimate companies you do business with.
How to report phishing
If you receive a phishing email in your Quantum Fiber email inbox, mark it as spam, and block the sender.
You can also report suspected phishing emails to:
- spam@uce.gov
- ReportPhishing@AntiPhishing.org
- The company, bank, or organization impersonated in the phishing email
Don't forward it!
What to do if you fall prey to phishing
You aren't alone. These criminals are smart and tricky. If you've fallen victim to a phishing scam, file a report with the Federal Trade Commission or call their hotline at 877-438-4338.
If you are a victim of identity theft, you can minimize the potential damage. For more information go to the Federal Trade Commission.
More from our blog
Check out these helpful blog articles to learn more about phishing and email scams.
- Types of phishing attacks
- How to spot a phishing email
- What to do if you open a phishing email
- How to get rid of malware
- How to prevent phishing
This content is provided for informational purposes only and may require additional research and substantiation by the end user. In addition, the information is provided “as is” without any warranty or condition of any kind, either express or implied. Use of this information is at the end user’s own risk. All third-party company and product or service names referenced in this article are for identification purposes only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation with Quantum Fiber. This document represents Quantum Fiber’s products and offerings as of the date of issue. Services not available everywhere. Quantum Fiber may change or cancel products and services or substitute similar products and services at its sole discretion without notice. ©2024 Q Fiber, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Quantum, Quantum Fiber and Quantum Fiber Internet are trademarks of Quantum Wireless LLC and used under license to Q Fiber, LLC.
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© 2024 Q Fiber, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Quantum, Quantum Fiber, and Quantum Fiber Internet are trademarks of Quantum Wireless LLC and used under license to Q Fiber, LLC.