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How to recognise and report fake emails or phishing

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What is phishing?

'Phishing' is the general term for the kind of fraud where someone tries to steal your personal (credit card) data. For example, you may receive a fake email, SMS or WhatsApp message that takes you to a fake website.
Fraudsters look for the following details:

  • The details of your credit card;
  • The login details for My ICS Business;
  • Your name, address and place of residence;
  • Email address and password for your email address;
  • Your bank account details (IBAN).

Unfortunately, we cannot (usually) prevent 'phishing' attempts of internet criminals. However, we are happy to tell you how to recognise fake messages and what other actions you can take with us to counteract phishing.

How does a fake email work?

A fake email is an email sent on behalf of ICS. The purpose of the email is to get you to give personal details. The email contains a call to fill in details and a link to a fake website.

Recognising fake emails

You can recognise fake emails as follows:

  • The email is usually not addressed to you personally, it says 'dear customer' or 'dear sir/madam';
  • The email asks you to take action quickly;
  • If you do not respond to the email immediately, your credit card will be blocked;
  • There is also a link in the email that takes you to a fake website;
  • Your mail provider or spam filter will usually tell you that the email is spam.

  • How do I forward a fake email?

    Thank you for sending us a fake email. You can send it to valse-email@icscards.nl.
    By following the steps below, we will get as much information from you as possible. This allows us to take specific action.

    1. Send the message as an attachment to valse-email@icscards.nl.
    2. Sent? Delete the message immediately.
    3. You will receive a confirmation. We will handle your message with care.
    4. You do not need to contact us.

    Did you click on the link in the fake message?

    1. 1.Always contact the Business Card Service Desk.
    2. We will assess the seriousness of the situation and help you further.

How does smishing work?

Fraudsters who try to obtain your details by text message use smishing or SMS phishing. Text messages that arrive on your phone are much shorter than an extensive email. You will often find a task such as 'confirm your identity', 'remove restriction from your credit card' or 'your credit card has been blocked for security reasons'. This is followed by a call to click on a link and fix it.

Recognising fake SMS or WhatsApp

To recognise if someone is trying to retrieve your details through a message on your phone, please pay attention to the following:

  • Short text;
  • You need to do something to continue using your credit card;
  • Text message comes from an unknown (foreign) number or from ICS..

 

  • How to forward a fake message via SMS or WhatsApp?

    Thank you for sending us a fake message. Please send it to valse-email@icscards.nl. By following the steps below, we will get as much information from you as possible. This allows us to take specific action. Please remember to delete the message after sharing it with us.

    Check the operating system of your mobile phone. Do you have a Samsung, Huawei or Xiaomi? Then you are using the Android operating system. Follow the steps below to forward a false message.

    Fake SMS forwarding for Android phones:

    1. Make a screenshot of the text message.
    2. Select the text of the text message by placing your finger on it and holding it down.
    3. A menu will open, choose the option 'Share'.
    4. Select your email client. Choose for example 'E-mail', 'Outlook' or 'Gmail'.
    5. In the 'To' field, enter the following email address: valse-email@icscards.nl.
    6. Always use the words 'Fake SMS' as the 'Subject'.
    7. Add the screenshot (made earlier) to the email.
    8. Press the "Send" button.

    Forward WhatsApp message for Android phones:

    1. Select the WhatsApp by placing your finger on it and holding it down.
    2. The menu will open, choose the 'Copy' option.
    3. Open your mail and create a new email message.
    4. In the 'To' field enter the following email address: valse-email@icscards.nl.
    5. Always use the words 'Fake Whatsapp' as the 'Subject'.
    6. Now place your finger in the text field of the email.
    7. The menu appears; choose the option 'Paste'.
    8. Press the 'Send' button.

    Do you have an iPhone? Then you are using the iOS operating system. Follow the steps below to forward a false message.

    Fake SMS forwarding for iOS phones:

    1. Make a screenshot of the text message.
    2. Select the text message by placing your finger on it and holding it down. A menu will open, choose the option 'Copy'.
    3. Open your email and create a new email message.
    4. In the 'To' field enter the following email address: valse-email@icscards.nl.
    5. Always use the words 'Fake SMS' as the 'Subject'.
    6. Now place your finger in text field of the email and select 'Paste'.
    7. Add the screenshot you made (earlier) to the email.
    8. Press the 'Send' button.

    Forward WhatsApp message for iOS phones:

    1. Select the WhatsApp by placing your finger on it and holding it down.
    2. The menu will open, now choose the option 'More'.
    3. Choose the arrow at the bottom right of your screen.
    4. Now choose the square with an upwards arrow, this is also in the bottom right.
    5. Select your email client. Choose for example 'Mail', 'Outlook' or 'Gmail'.
    6. In the 'To' field, enter the following email address: valse-email@icscards.nl.
    7. Always use the words 'Fake Whatsapp' as the 'Subject'.
    8. Press the 'Send' button.

     

  • Phishing via telephone call

    Did someone ask you for your Card details over the phone on behalf of ICS?

    1. Do not respond to any questions. Hang up the phone immediately.
    2. Report the case of phishing over the phone to us. Contact the Business Card Service Desk.

     

  • Do you see a debit on your account you do not recognise?

    It could be fraud, but it doesn't have to be. We are happy to help you along:

    1. Double-check if it's really incorrect. For more information see Dispute a transaction;
    2. Unjustified but not fraudulent? Then you can 'Dispute a transaction';
    3. Is it fraud? Report it immediately to the Business Card Service Desk.

     

Tip: pay extra attention when you receive an email or text message asking you to log in via a link or change/transmit data. Do you want to log in? Always open a new tab in your web browser and go to icsbusiness.nl to log in securely. If you receive a actual text message from ICS, this would be a request to contact us or a code for verification or authorisation. ICS would never ask you to send in your credit card. Don't do this if you are asked to do so.

 

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+31 (0) 20 - 6 600 666.