Our cellphones are our lifelines. They’re a way to stay connected, to be entertained, to capture important moments, and to keep organized. But greater reliance on our phones means we’re increasingly susceptible to opportunistic scammers and hackers.
“Our phone has all our information, more information than we think we have,” says Vivian Odii, a senior cybersecurity manager at a financial institution. Items such as photos and banking details can be easily accessed on a smartphone, making it especially vulnerable.
Odii has a few practical tips to keep Canadians safe while using their phones. Here’s what she suggests:
Improve your passwords and enable multi-factor authentication
It may sound like a rookie move, but Odii says we’d be surprised at how many people still have simple passwords that use dictionary words such as ‘hello123.’ “Those are easy passwords to hack,” she points out. “Cybersecurity criminals have tools like dictionary attacks to run against your passwords.”
Password managers, which are often built into phone operating systems, can help users create strong passwords and store them safely. An even better strategy is to enable multi-factor authentication when available. It requires another confirmation in addition to a password, such as facial recognition, a thumbprint, or a one-time password sent to your email address or texted to your phone. “It’s about adding another layer of security to your account,” Odii explains.
Sign up with a mobile phone plan that’s all about keeping things fair
You know what can feel like a scam? A price hike on your phone plan. Mobile carrier Fizz believes in doing things differently – and transparently.
Its promise? The price of your mobile plan will never go up. Even better, if you see a better price offered online, you can grab it and lock it in, simply by changing your phone plan online, directly in your account. No negotiating with a customer service rep is required. Everyone is treated the same, meaning existing members and newbies can grab the same deals, any time, just by making the switch online. And, your data rolls over to the next month, meaning no wasted money if you don’t use it all in a single month.
Turn on your phone’s security features
Spam texts and calls are rampant. Many mobile carriers allow you to report a spam text or number. You can also forward the text to “7726,” which helps carriers such as Fizz identify and block similar messages in the future.
Another option is to block texts from all unknown users, which can be done through your phone settings. As with all Canadian telecom providers, Fizz has activated universal call blocking for all users, which is helping to reduce spam calls from suspicious numbers.
Be cautious with links and messages
Odii says spammers are getting more sophisticated, with realistic-looking texts and emails, thanks to AI. “People are getting very, very, good at making it difficult to know which message is fake and which is not,” she explains.
When it comes to links in emails, which we might click on and open on our phones, Odii recommends waiting until you’re at a computer instead, where you can hover over a link and verify that it’s valid before clicking on it. Spammers tend to give a sense of urgency to their messages, like a loved one being in trouble or your boss needing urgent information.
Instead, Odii tells us to stop and verify with the source – calling that person or reaching out to your boss to check whether the message is real.
Pay your phone bill through secure, official channels
Another way to avoid a scam is to pay your monthly phone bill directly on your mobile carrier’s website, instead of waiting for your bill to arrive in your inbox.
“Spam emails can have the same look, the same colours as the real thing,” she explains.
We might instinctively click on an email link to pay a bill and enter our bank details without realizing it’s fake. But going directly to a mobile carrier’s website ensures that you’re paying through the official channel.
Better yet, as a prepaid type of provider Fizz offers automatic payments on your credit card so you don’t have to worry about remembering to pay your bill in the first place. And, given that all their phone plans are prepaid, the amount will always be the same – no bad surprises!
Join Fizz today for peace of mind – and a phone plan free from scams.
Want to keep your phone scam-free? Don’t forget about your mobile plan. Here’s how Fizz keeps things simple, flexible and stress-free – just the way your digital life should feel.
| Build your own plan | Need more data and fewer calls? Or just want a basic plan while you cut the clutter? Fizz lets you fully customize – no one-size-fits-none contracts here. |
|---|---|
| Roll over your unused data | Why waste data you didn’t use? Fizz rolls it over to next month automatically. |
| Share the love | Gift your extra data or perks to another Fizz user. Because good vibes (and bytes) should be shared. |
| No surprise bills, ever | Say goodbye to unexpected fees. What you see is what you pay. |
| All online, all the time | Manage everything yourself – fast, easy, and 100% digital. |
| Ready to switch? | Check your phone’s compatibility and start building your plan today. |
Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio with Fizz Mobile. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.
