Becoming a victim of an online scam today is not hard at all – a single hasty click in an e‑mail or message is enough. Attackers exploit social networks, e‑mails, and our work devices, and they often have time to quietly watch and prepare an attack. Here’s what happens in practice, why you shouldn’t be ashamed to report incidents, and which simple steps reduce the risk.
When a scam affects both your private and work life
In personal life, emotional manipulation also thrives: for example, an older woman fell in love with an invented “hunk” over social networks and sent the scammers thousands of euros, even as red flags like fake parcels and blocked payments kept piling up. In healthcare, a pediatrician with outdated software and a weak network lost data on approximately 1500 patients and had to handle the incident with the police. Even after restoring the system, the battle may not be won – the data are often stolen and the attacker continues to extort with them, whether you pay or not. That’s why it’s crucial to report incidents so they can be investigated and to generate data for better prevention; within an organization contact IT, outside it the police and relevant units such as the national CERT.
Basic habits that reduce risk
Slow down when working with mail and messages: verify the sender, whether the message is expected, and the true destination of the link; do not open attachments with macros. Never send sensitive data or passwords based on a phone call or SMS – instead request an official channel and identity verification. If you transfer personal or health data, use encryption (for example, a protected archive with a strong password delivered via a separate channel).
Pay attention to updates, multilayer network security, and backups that are segregated and non‑rewritable. Organizations should regularly train and test employees, because even experienced people can be caught out under stress. If you’re suspicious, it’s better not to click, don’t reply to anything, and immediately inform the responsible person or IT; if you don’t have IT, contact the police or the national incident‑response team. Shame has no place in cybersecurity – timely communication saves money, reputation, and patients’ health.
