Phishing – Don’t get hooked

By Regence
November 26, 2018
phishing-prevention-tips-web

At Regence, we’re committed to keeping personal information safe and secure. We recently became aware of an uptick in "robocalls," a type of phishing scam in which callers mask their identity through a "spoofing" technology, which hides their true name and phone number, enabling them to pose as BlueCross BlueShield representatives. In order to protect you and your family from these type of scams, we want to share tips on how to keep your information safe. 

Phishing is when someone tries to obtain your personal information by posing as a trustworthy source. If you get an email that looks like it’s from your bank, or a phone call from someone claiming to be from Regence but they are asking for your personal information, be wary. Never give out your personal information unless you are absolutely sure it’s safe to do so. If you are unsure, contact the organization directly to check that it is a legitimate request. Regence will never ask you for personal information such as your Social Security Number (SSN).

What thieves want

Thieves are looking for your financial, tax and medical information, typically to gain access to your bank account or steal your identity. The 2016 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report found 89 percent of data breaches had a financial or espionage motive. The damage they do can cost you time and money.

What you can do

The steps below are suggestions from the federal government and Verizon as simple ways to reduce your chances of being a victim.

  • Don't respond to unsolicited requests for personal information in the mail, over the phone or online.
  • Keep your Social Security card in a safe place. Do not keep it in your wallet or write your number on your checks. Only give out your SSN when absolutely necessary.
  • Protect your PIN. Never write a PIN on your credit or debit card. Avoid writing it on a slip of paper kept in your wallet.
  • Make sure people aren’t looking over your shoulder at the grocery store or ATM. Use your free hand to shield the keypad.
  • Collect mail daily. Empty your mailbox every day. If you will be away from home for more than a day, ask the post office to put your mail on hold.
  • Pay attention to your billing cycles. If bills or financial statements are late, contact the sender.
  • Monitor your credit card statement. Keep your receipts or use a money-tracking app to monitor credit card activity. Ask for incorrect charge slips, and promptly compare receipts with account statements. Look for unauthorized transactions.
  • Shred old receipts, credit offers, account statements, expired cards and any documents showing personal information to prevent dumpster divers getting your information.
  • Store personal information in a safe place at home and at work. Don't leave it lying around; consider locking it up.
  • Don’t open questionable emails, and don’t click on links from unknown senders. If you don’t know who the sender of an email is, delete the email. Look out for spelling and grammar mistakes. Do not open links or attachments from unfamiliar senders.
  • Install firewalls and virus-detection software on your home computer.
  • Check your credit report once a year. Under federal law you are entitled to a copy of your credit report annually from all three credit reporting agencies – Experian®, Equifax® and TransUnion® -- once every 12 months. If you think someone has accessed your account information, request your report immediately.

Remember, the most important thing you can do to protect your information is to be skeptical. Be careful when giving out personal information and opening questionable emails. 

To report fraud, call us at 1-800-323-1693 (TTY: 711). To report fraud related to Federal Employees specifically, please contact 1-800-337-8440. You can also complete this online fraud report form.

This post was originally published on September 2, 2016 and was updated with additional information on November 26, 2018.

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