Phishing

• Messages or threats about imminent danger often indicate a scam and could be phishing attempts.

• Carefully check the URL of a website to ensure you are not on a fraudulent site.

• Legitimate companies, banks, or public institutions will never ask for personal or security-related information through messages or calls, such as PINs, card details, or passwords, .

• Never grant an unknown individual access to your computer or bank account, don't follow instructions from someone you don’t know, or engage with unexpected calls—block them instead.

• Never approve logins or confirm actions with your electronic ID unless you are actively using it to log in.

• Be cautious when receiving messages with links or requests for sensitive information, especially if you weren’t expecting them.

• Scammers often obtain email addresses by breaching company websites. You can check if your email address has been involved in a data breach on the website Have I Been Pwned. If it has, change your password for that account and your email immediately.

• It’s essential to browse the Internet using secure devices and strong passwords. Read more about ensuring your security online.

Phone calls

Unexpected international calls could be scam calls, so it’s best not to answer them. Scammers can also spoof phone numbers to make them appear Icelandic.

Common examples of phone scams include fraudsters pretending to be from Microsoft, claiming there’s a known issue with your computer and requesting access to fix it, or impersonating a police officer or bank employee needing access to your bank account to resolve an issue. Never share sensitive information over the phone or grant anyone access to your computer or bank account.

Social Media

Suspicious messages

If you receive suspicious messages on social media, report them to the respective platform. If you receive suspicious messages on social media, report them to the respective platform. Do not click on any links or provide personal information.

Money requests

If someone asks you for money on social media, it could be a scam. Check their profile carefully—look for suspicious signs like newly created accounts or incomplete information. If you're unsure, try to verify that the person is real before responding.

Your account has been hacked

• Check if you can still access your account.

• If you can, change your password and set up multi-factor authentication.

• If you cannot access your account, try resetting your password.

• If that doesn’t work, report to the social media platform that your account has been hacked. See instructions for major social media platforms.

• Change the password on all other accounts that use the same—or similar—username and password.

• Review your online security thoroughly. Read about how to secure yourself online.

Beware of misinformation

Sensational headlines on social media may signal fake news designed to lead you to fraudulent websites.