Stay safe from phone scams

You pick up. The caller addresses you by your surname and claims to work for the government.

You'll probably start to panic. The caller seems to make so much sense. After all, they're calling on behalf of the government, which you respect.

To prove your innocence, would you give them your account details and passwords? Or will you take a minute to gather your thoughts, calm down and contact the institution or your bank to confirm the caller's real identity? The bank would be able to verify whether your accounts or finances have been compromised.

That's a common thought among many, but is it safe for you to make such an assumption? You may think you won't give out private information. But what if they ask for your full name and date of birth to help with their investigation?

Experienced scammers know how to get what they want, even if you say no at the start. The caller will probably ask more questions to push you to disclose more personal details so they can 'confirm your identity'. By the time you realise you've shared too much, it's probably already too late.

Besides, would you know if you'd ever accidentally shared your personal data and identity online? Remember, every time you share or tell someone your personal information online, digital footprints are created, making you more vulnerable to social engineering attacks.

To find out more about these and how to protect yourself, read How to avoid social engineering scams.

Take these important steps to prevent fraudsters from getting what they want.

Scammers are usually well-versed in playing psychological games and creating elaborate schemes to trick you. If you receive a suspicious call, the best approach is to keep calm and just hang up.

If you think you've already experienced a scam, don't wait any longer and report it to us immediately.