Information Security and Phishing
What is phishing?
Phishing is a deceptive scheme in which a fraudster pretends to be a well-known financial institution or company in order to trick you into revealing personal information, embezzling funds, sending mass emails, or even infecting others with malware.
How to detect a phishing attempt?
Phishing messages often report problems requiring an urgent action on your part, such as updating your data. While others will try to entice you with a potential gain: a cash prize, a gift, a trip, etc. Keep an eye out for clues left by fraudsters:
Verify the sender’s email address
The address of a reliable organization should display the company name “without mistakes” and without special characters. Tip: also watch out for the Internet provider’s name after the @, as letters or numbers are sometimes added.
Check out the links
Look at the related addresses before you even click on them. Tip: visit the organization’s website by yourself and try to find the same page using keywords.
Spot the typos
Grammatical and spelling mistakes are quite common in phishing emails, whereas a serious organization will send you messages written with quality in mind.
How to react to suspicious emails and avoid fraud?
Inaction is your greatest protection:
- Do not click on any links or images.
- Do not open any attachments.
- Do not reply to the sender.
- Never use a number appearing in a received message.
Do you suspect you’ve been the victim of fraud?
Contact your financial institution and follow the recommendations of the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Your questions about information security
Yes.
Emails
Unless you request otherwise, CAA-Quebec may send you emails, for example:
- promote our services and products;
- give you factual information about your membership or CAA-Quebec;
- get your feedback about a product or service; and
- know your level of satisfaction with our products and services.
You may remove your name from our mailing list at any time by following the Unsubscribe link found at the end of all CAA-Quebec emails.
Text messages
Text messages from CAA-Quebec can be sent to members in specific situations:
- Roadside Assistance request: automated text messages are sent to update you on the status of your request; and
- Driving schools: to remind you of your upcoming courses.
No. CAA-Quebec will never ask you for your password, whether by text message, email or phone.
Unfortunately, yes, and this is completely beyond our control.
CAA-Quebec has implemented and maintains technological, physical, and contractual security measures to protect the Personal Information of its members and customers, particularly against loss and theft. For further details, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
Yes. CAA-Quebec regularly sends survey invitations to its members and customers to gauge their interest or improve its service delivery. Don’t forget the three key things to look for to detect a phishing attempt: email address, links, and typos.