17 Sep 2024
Have you ever realized how much we rely on the Internet for almost everything in our daily lives? The internet is important in everyone’s life, especially for people living away from home. As a Filipino expat in Italy, it is essential to stay in touch with your family and send money to Philippines from Italy. Nothing is possible without the internet. The internet has numerous benefits, but it also comes with risks that cannot be ignored. This convenience is accompanied by a growing threat of cybercrimes.
The question is: how can you stay safe online while managing these important aspects of your life? This article will answer this question in detail so that you will not fall victim to cybercrime.
The latest report shows that there are more than 160,000 Filipinos in Italy. They relocate to this developed country to earn a good living for their families. Filipino expatriates often send remittances back home to support their families. The positive shift in the trend of digital transactions has also increased remittance fraud. According to Verizon's 2024 Data Breach Investigation, 30,458 cyber threat incidents were reported.
Scammers use tricks like phishing, identity theft, and hacking to steal money. They target people sending money abroad and use various methods to access and divert funds.
Here are the most common types of cyber crimes, not only in Italy but all over the world.
Fraudulent people send fake emails or messages to trick people into revealing personal information or login details.
Criminals steal personal information to impersonate someone else and commit fraud or access accounts.
Malicious software, e.g., viruses etc., infects devices to steal data or disrupt operations. Cybercriminals often target online money transfer services to steal sensitive information like account details and passwords. This can lead to unauthorized access to your account and theft of funds intended for money transfer from Italy to Philippines.
It is unauthorized access to networks to steal data or cause damage. Nowadays, scammers send a link that appears to be legitimate, but just one click can result in the hacking of your whole device.
Impersonation is pretending to be someone else online. It is to deceive or harm others. This is mostly done to gain money illegally.
This is the most common online crime nowadays. Digital platforms are used to bully, threaten, or harass individuals.
Here are some useful strategies which you can follow to prevent online scams.
Your password is the first barrier to keeping your online accounts safe from unauthorized access. Must include alphanumeric and special characters in your password. Do not use guessable code like your name or “12345” or the word “password”. Use unique passwords for different accounts. A breach in one account shouldn’t affect others. Also, change passwords regularly. This prevents long-term loss if an account gets compromised.
Never leave a device without a password. Turn on two-factor authentication on all online accounts, especially on accounts with sensitive data like money transfer apps, while making an online money transfer from Italy to Philippines. 2FA demands your password and OTP to perform any operation. So, it is a protection against illegitimate access.
Regularly update your antivirus and anti-malware software like firewalls. These programs help in detecting and removing threats that could compromise your data.
Sharing personal details online can make you vulnerable to identity theft and fraud. Only share sensitive information on secure websites. Look for “https://” and a padlock symbol in the URL of the site. It indicates that the site is encrypted.
Cyber threats are evolving day by day. Stay informed about the latest scams, malware, and other online crimes. If you are aware of these, you can better protect yourself from becoming a victim.
Before clicking on a link or downloading a file, verify its source. Cybercriminals often disguise malicious links in emails, messages, or websites. If it is from a suspicious source, it’s better to avoid clicking.
Free WiFi is a source of happiness for most of us, but public Wi-Fi networks can also be a hotspot for hackers looking to intercept our data. Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities like online banking, etc. If you have to use public Wi-Fi urgently, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your connection and protect your personal information.
Turn off location, hotspots, and Bluetooth from your phone when you're not using them. This helps you save your device. Keeping these features on can let others track you or connect to your device. Turning them off helps protect your information and keeps hackers away. It’s an easy way to maintain online security.
Never respond to messages or calls claiming you've won a prize or bonus, especially if they ask for your card details. These are mostly scams that steal your personal information or money. Legitimate institutes never ask for sensitive information through unsolicited communication. Always verify the authenticity of such claims through official channels.
When you send money online to Philippines from Italy, choose a credible remittance service provider platform. You use your sensitive information like card or bank details for money transfers. So, make sure the platform you’re using is secure. Always use trusted services like ACE Money Transfer, which is famous for encrypted and secure transactions.
Follow these preventive measures to protect yourself from online scams while living in Italy. Also, if you are searching for a secure platform to send money to the Philippines from Italy, download the ACE Money Transfer app for a secure remittance service.
Strange email addresses and urgent or threatening language are the signs of phishing mail. Do not click on links from suspicious sources.
Report the incident to your bank or relevant institute. Notify the appropriate authorities and update your passwords. Also, monitor your accounts for any unusual activity.
Backing up your data guarantees that you will not lose important files in case of a cyberattack. Regular backups also help you recover your information quickly.
"HTTPS" in the URL and a padlock symbol in the address bar are the signs of a secure website. They show that the site uses encryption to protect your data.
Unexpected password changes, unfamiliar transactions or messages, and login alerts from unknown locations are major signs that your account has been compromised. Report to relevant authorities as soon as possible.
