Online scams, commonly known as "phishing," are not a new phenomenon, but residents of Luxembourg are increasingly falling victim to these attacks. The question now arises: How should we respond to these types of scams?
It is a sad reality that receiving misleading and fake emails and messages impersonating authorities, transportation services, banks, and more, has become a part of our daily lives. However, some individuals still occasionally fall into the trap, and it is our collective responsibility to defend them by providing information, education, and guidance.
In Luxembourg, BeeSecure is responsible for raising public awareness about the risks of these online scams. The role of this government initiative is growing day by day. It is evident that Luxembourg has now become a target for targeted attacks.
These scams are becoming more sophisticated by the moment, and victims may not realize that this is an unscrupulous method for stealing information or money. There are solutions to protect oneself, even if they may seem insignificant at first glance.
Simple actions such as verifying all contact details (email, website, phone number) should be considered as soon as a message is received from an entity or person you do not recognize. If in doubt, it is better to contact the claiming institution to verify if they are indeed the sender of the message.
As a rule of thumb, authorities will never ask citizens to engage in such methods. If in doubt, it is best to block the message, and most importantly, refrain from responding to any requests mentioned in the email, text message, or phone call, as attacks can take various forms.
Residents can find practical recommendations for use in similar situations on the website www.bee-secure.lu. Another useful address is the website of the Cybersecurity Agency of Luxembourg www.lhc.lu, especially for reporting any illegal content or attempts at online scams.
