Online Safety Awareness

Stay Alert.
Stay Secure.
Stop Online Fraud.

Learn how scammers operate, recognize suspicious messages and websites, protect your accounts, and make safer decisions whenever you are online.

01 Pause before you act
02 Verify before you trust
03 Protect before you share
Know the Threats

Common online fraud tactics

Scammers often create urgency, impersonate trusted organizations, or offer deals that appear too good to be true.

🎣

Phishing

Fake emails, messages or websites designed to trick you into revealing passwords, payment information or personal data.

💳

Payment Fraud

Fraudsters may pretend to be sellers, banks, delivery companies or support agents and request unexpected payments.

📱

Social Media Scams

Fake profiles, impersonation, giveaway scams and fraudulent investment offers can appear on social platforms.

🛒

Shopping Scams

Fake stores can advertise unusually cheap products and disappear after receiving payment.

🔐

Account Takeover

Criminals may try to steal passwords or verification codes and gain access to online accounts.

☎️

Impersonation

A caller or message may pretend to represent a bank, government agency, company, friend or family member.

⚠️ Remember: A message that creates panic or demands immediate action deserves extra scrutiny. Stop, verify the request independently, and avoid clicking unexpected links.
Warning Signs

Spot the red flags before it's too late.

Fraud attempts often rely on emotional pressure rather than technical sophistication.

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Unexpected urgency “Act immediately” or “your account will be closed” is a common pressure tactic.
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Requests for secret information Be suspicious of requests for passwords, PINs, authentication codes or sensitive information.
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Unusual payment instructions Unexpected payment requests should be independently verified.
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Suspicious links Check the destination carefully instead of trusting a link simply because the message looks professional.
The Golden Rule

Stop.
Check.
Then act.

If something feels unusual, take a moment. Contact the organization using an official website or phone number you find independently.

Never rely solely on contact details supplied by a suspicious message.
Simple Protection

Four habits that make you safer online.

Good online security starts with simple, repeatable habits.

1

Pause

Don't let a message pressure you into making an immediate decision.

2

Verify

Contact the person or organization through a trusted, independently obtained channel.

3

Protect

Use strong unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication whenever available.

4

Report

If you encounter fraud, preserve relevant evidence and report it through the appropriate official channel.

Awareness Check

Would you recognize a scam?

Test your instincts with this quick awareness question.

You receive a message claiming your bank account will be suspended unless you click a link immediately. What should you do?
Frequently Asked Questions

Online safety questions

How can I tell if an email is suspicious?

Look for unexpected requests, unusual sender addresses, pressure to act quickly, suspicious links, unexpected attachments and requests for sensitive information.

Should I share a verification code with someone?

Treat authentication and verification codes as sensitive. Do not share them simply because someone claims to be from a company or support team.

What should I do if I clicked a suspicious link?

Stop interacting with the page. If you entered credentials, change the affected password using the official service and review your account security. If financial information was involved, contact your financial institution promptly through its official contact method.

How can I make my accounts safer?

Use unique passwords, a reputable password manager, multi-factor authentication, updated software and account recovery methods you control.

What if I think I have been scammed?

Stop further communication or payments, preserve messages and transaction records, secure affected accounts, contact relevant financial institutions or service providers, and report the incident to the appropriate authorities.

Your Security Starts With Awareness

Think before you click.

The strongest defense against many online scams is a moment of caution. Slow down, verify unexpected requests and protect your personal information.

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