What is Phishing and How to Protect Yourself from Online Scams

Apr 01, 2022|

Nearly everything we do now takes place online. From shopping to managing your Vivint account, your digital footprint is ever-expanding. That’s why it’s more important than ever to understand the dangers of phishing.

What is phishing?

Phishing is a technique used by cybercriminals in which they send you fake messages from a seemingly trusted or reputable source. These messages are usually designed to convince the recipient to click on a link, complete a financial transaction, give access to a system, or reveal sensitive or personal information. Phishing can come in a variety of forms including emails, text messages, phone calls, and social media messages or posts. It is always best practice to be wary of unsolicited communication that asks for personal information or request that you click a link.

Man typing in his credit card information online.
Scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information.
 

Tips on spotting phishing attempts

  • Look for a suspicious sender address that imitates a legitimate business
  • Hover over hyperlinks to validate that they links to the accurate website. Often, cybercriminals will use tools to spoof URLs. Our official website is Vivint.com (click.simplify.vivint.com is also correct)
  • Be on the lookout for poor grammar, sentence structure, misspellings, and inconsistent formatting
  • Unsolicited emails requesting a user download and open an attachment is a common delivery mechanism for malware
  • Watch out for emotions that create a sense of urgency to get the message recipient to act quickly

Let’s be neighbors.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for more smart tips.

Vivint customer service representative ready to assist with your needs
If a Vivint Customer Service representative reaches out to you, they will always ask for your passcode.
 

Vivint will never initiate a conversation with you and ask you to provide sensitive information. If Vivint calls you, Customer Service representatives will only ask for your passcode if you request major changes to your account. If you receive a suspicious message that claims to be from Vivint, please do not respond or click on any of the provided links or contact information. Instead, we encourage you to verify if the message is legitimate by reaching out to Vivint via phone, email, or secure chat, which are all listed on our official website’s contact page. Suspicious messages can also be reported by emailing us at [email protected].

Get a free quote today.

A Vivint Smart Home Pro will contact you within 24 hours. Or skip the form and call now: 844.481.8630.

By clicking the button below, you consent for Vivint to use automated technology, including calls, texts and prerecorded messages, to contact you at the number and email provided about Vivint offers. This consent is not required to make a purchase. Up to 10msg/month. Reply 'STOP' to opt-out at any time. Clicking the button below constitutes your electronic signature. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.