Have you been a victim of phishing? This is how you should act to get back what was stolen from you
Phishing is an increasingly common problem on the internet. For those who don’t know, it’s a type of scam where scammers try to trick you into giving them your personal or banking information.
They can do this through fake emails, text messages, or even phone calls. Scammers often pretend to be companies or banks you know.
Their goal is for you to trust them and provide them with important information, such as your passwords or credit card number. Often times, people fall into these traps without even realizing they are being scammed, and ultimately, with so much technology out there today, it is important to know how to protect yourself from these attacks.
“In these messages they usually tell us that we need to change our banking passwords or take some action with our bank, and we need to access it through the link that appears in the text. If we manage to access it, a website will appear that looks real, although it is a completely fake website so that the victim can enter the data that the criminals need to be able to steal from him.”
Banking Phishing: What to Do If You're Scammed and How to File a Complaint
If you realize you've been a victim of phishing, it's very important to act quickly. Knowing exactly what to do and how to file a complaint can help you resolve the issue and, in some cases, get your money or information back.
Many people think that if they fall victim to a phishing scam, the chances of getting their money back are slim, that’s why they don’t dare to report it to get their money back. But in reality, the chances of getting their money back are higher than we think, because it’s a scam and not a voluntary act if a person transfers money by mistake or fraud.
It’s also important to know who you should notify, such as your bank or the police. Acting quickly can make the difference between resolving the issue or having more serious consequences. Although, as always, it’s best to stay calm.
The most important step is to contact your bank or credit card company immediately. Tell them what happened and ask them to block your card and any suspicious transactions.
Many banks have special telephone lines for these cases that operate 24 hours a day. Do not hesitate to use them, even if you are not sure whether you have actually been a victim of fraud.
After that, you should file a report with the police, providing detailed information about the fraud. It is important to keep the phishing messages you receive, to show the police how the fraud was carried out, and how the payment process was initiated. In short, do not delete anything, because this evidence will be very useful when filing your complaint with the police or your bank.
Of course, after all this, you should change all of your passwords. Not just your bank, but all those that might be at risk. This includes your email, social media, and any other accounts you use online. Make sure to use strong, different passwords for each account. A good password should contain uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Of course, in some cases, it may be necessary to consider taking legal action, as if the bank rejects the claim, it is time to file a lawsuit in the competent courts; for this, there must be lawyers specialized in the matter.
With all this and seeing how bad it is, use this experience as an opportunity to educate those around you about what happened to you. You are the victim, so don't blame yourself for what happened. With the right steps and a little perseverance, it is possible to get things back to normal.