--- title: How to Avoid Becoming the Target of a Phishing Scam description: Phishing scams mimic an organization’s identity to gain access to personal accounts and data. More than 46,000 Canadians were impacted by fraud in 2021. image: https://blog.accesscu.ca/hubfs/How-to-avoid-becoming-the-target-of-a-phishing-scam.jpg --- #003B49 [![AccessCU\_Horizontal\_Colour\_pws-1](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/AccessCU_Horizontal_Colour_pws-1.png?width=199&height=50&name=AccessCU_Horizontal_Colour_pws-1.png "AccessCU_Horizontal_Colour_pws-1")](https://www.accesscu.ca/) Open main menu Close main menu [Fraud](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/fraud) [Tips & Advice](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/tips-advice) [Security](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/security) # How to Avoid Becoming the Target of a Phishing Scam ![Access Credit Union](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Access_LogoMark.jpg?width=45&name=Access_LogoMark.jpg) [Access Credit Union](https://blog.accesscu.ca/author/access-credit-union) [Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://blog.accesscu.ca/avoid-phishing-scams) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.accesscu.ca/avoid-phishing-scams) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.accesscu.ca/avoid-phishing-scams) ![](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hubfs/How-to-avoid-becoming-the-target-of-a-phishing-scam.jpg) ### Don't fall for phone, email, website, or login scams. Phishing scams are when a malicious user or entity will mimic a trusted organization’s identity to gain information or access to personal accounts and data. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), until the end of November 2021, more than 46,000 Canadians were victims of fraud, resulting in a loss of $231 million — a difference of about $123 million year over year. These scams exist in numerous forms: emails, phone calls, fake websites and login portals, among others. Here are some simple steps you can follow to reduce the chances you will be targeted by a phishing scam when doing online banking, a common place for phishing emails, fake websites, and login portals: - Never search for your credit union website on a search engine when logging into online banking. Always type in the credit union’s actual URL and then navigate to online banking. This way you won’t be redirected to a fake website. - *TIP: Access Credit Union’s URL is [accesscu.ca](https://www.accesscu.ca/en/personal).* - Once at the right website, navigate to the “Sign In” page and look for these clues to verify that you are on the actual, secure online banking site: - All credit union websites use **Hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS)**, which means their links all start with **HTTPS**. If your login page link starts with HTTP, then you may be using a spoof site. - If you see any **typos on the website** you are using to login to your online banking, this is a very strong indicator it is a faked page. - Most secure login sites show a **small padlock next to the website address**. This indicates you are visiting the website using a secure connection. ![padlock](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/padlock.png?width=610&name=padlock.png) - Browse around the site before entering any information to **ensure it actually has more pages** than just the login or home page, and check the other pages for typos or any other unusual elements. - Once you’ve verified you’re on the correct secure site, **bookmark it**. You can bookmark a page in most web browsers by hitting "CTRL + D" on your keyboard. That way, when you use the bookmark in the future, whenever you go to sign in to online banking, you will know you are on the secure site. - Before logging in, especially on a mobile device, be sure to close any other downloaded apps that may be running in the background. - **Never login to your online banking from an email.** If asked to view your account, open online banking in a separate window and use your bookmarked link to get to the website. You can also simply type in the actual URL. - Access Credit Union will never send you emails asking to log into your account or input your credentials. General Fraud Awareness Tips - Make sure you are online banking from a device free of malware, spyware, and any viruses. - *TIP: Keep your antivirus software up-to-date and current.* - Never log into online or mobile banking on a public Wi-Fi network, whether a password is supplied or not. Banking from a public Wi-Fi network is one of the most popular way members are defrauded. Only use a personal home password-secured network. - *TIP: If you must bank on the go, disconnect the Wi-Fi and use a cellular data network.* --- You work hard for your money. Don't let a fraudster get a hold of your funds. Protect yourself, and protect your earnings. *[![Learn more about fraud](https://hubspot-no-cache-na3-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/20752134/8b01bbd4-6006-4a83-90a0-1ee133f3ca0b.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na3-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/20752134/8b01bbd4-6006-4a83-90a0-1ee133f3ca0b)   [![Contact us](https://hubspot-no-cache-na3-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/20752134/91ef4aff-2e79-4b28-a2dd-46e1f870d6bc.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na3-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/20752134/91ef4aff-2e79-4b28-a2dd-46e1f870d6bc)*      ## Related Articles [![](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hubfs/iStock-1179026152.jpg)](https://blog.accesscu.ca/how-to-include-renovation-costs-when-buying-a-new-home) [Mortgage](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/mortgage) [Lending](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/lending) ### [How to Include Renovation Costs When Buying a New Home](https://blog.accesscu.ca/how-to-include-renovation-costs-when-buying-a-new-home) When you’re looking for a new house, it can be hard to find a place that has exactly what you want. Sometimes a house may need some renovations to make it the home you... ![Access Credit Union](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Access_LogoMark.jpg?width=45&name=Access_LogoMark.jpg) [Access Credit Union](https://blog.accesscu.ca/author/access-credit-union) [Read More](https://blog.accesscu.ca/how-to-include-renovation-costs-when-buying-a-new-home) [![couple in the kitchen with bills ](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hubfs/iStock-1294509749.jpg)](https://blog.accesscu.ca/how-to-organize-your-financial-documents-like-a-professional) [Tips & Advice](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/tips-advice) [Financial Literacy](https://blog.accesscu.ca/tag/financial-literacy) ### [How to Organize Your Financial Documents like a Professional](https://blog.accesscu.ca/how-to-organize-your-financial-documents-like-a-professional) Staying organized is easier said than done, especially when it comes to financial documents. ![Access Credit Union](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Access_LogoMark.jpg?width=45&name=Access_LogoMark.jpg) [Access Credit Union](https://blog.accesscu.ca/author/access-credit-union) [Read More](https://blog.accesscu.ca/how-to-organize-your-financial-documents-like-a-professional) #### Connect with Access Credit Union Follow Access Credit Union on social media for financial advice and news from our member community.  [![facebookwhite\_64x64](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/facebookwhite_64x64.png?width=45&height=45&name=facebookwhite_64x64.png)](https://www.facebook.com/AccessCreditUnion) [![linkedin](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/linkedin-6-64.png?width=45&name=linkedin-6-64.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/access-credit-union)[![instagramwhite\_64x64](https://blog.accesscu.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/instagramwhite_64x64.png?width=45&height=45&name=instagramwhite_64x64.png)](https://www.instagram.com/accesscreditunion/)