7 Ways To Prevent Cyber Fraud

Illustration of cyber attacks (photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Cyber fraud is still a threat to the public. Many cases of cyber fraud are eyeing personal information from internet users.

"Like passwords, financial information or other sensitive data disguised as a trusted entity," said West Jakarta Head of the Communication, Informatics and Statistics (Kominfotik) Sub-dept. Andrie Yuswanto.

Since April 2023, West Jakarta's Kominfotik has received two complaints related to "phishing".

"There have only been two cases reported to us, but what we heard was a few more. The two reports are related to fraud with the Application Package File (APK)," said Andrie, as quoted by Antara, Saturday, July 29.

He asked the public to always maintain online security and personal information. Andrie then said, there are seven ways to prevent fraud from happening to internet users.

First, believe in instincts (insting). If something looks suspicious or feels untrue, don't click on the link or download suspicious attachments.

Second, verify the address of the site. The internet user must ensure that the address of the site accessed is correct and safe. Check the link carefully before clicking it.

"Knowing the original URL address can help recognize the site 'phishing'," he said.

Third, be aware of emails from unknown sources. If you receive an email from an unknown person, especially those asking for personal or financial information, don't provide that information.

"If you feel in doubt, contact the company or organization mentioned in the email directly to verify its authenticity," said Andrie.

Fourth, never provide sensitive information via email. Legal companies or financial institutions will not ask for sensitive information via email.

"If you are asked to provide information such as a credit card number or password via email, it can be a sign of fraud," he said.

Fifth, maintain account security. "Use a strong and different password for each online account. Always activate two-step verification if available to improve account security," he said.

Sixth, updating security devices and software. Make sure the device has the latest updates and the security packages needed.

"This update often overcomes security weaknesses that criminals can exploit in 'phishing' attacks," he said.

Seventh, using a "phishing" scanner. One way to protect yourself from "phishing" attacks is to use a scanner available on some software or computer security software.

This device helps detect and warn about suspicious websites or scams that may be visited.