Superbalist phishing scam shows how vulnerable consumers are

The recent Superbalist scam is an example of just how easy it is for end users to fall victim to simple phishing attacks, a cyber security expert said on Wednesday.

Mimecast security specialist Heino Gevers said while Superbalist was warning victims via their social channels, it was clear that average users still did not fully understand how phishing scams work or how to spot a malicious email or SMS.

"User awareness remains a huge concern and one that needs to be rectified urgently. Individuals need to understand the consequences of clicking on harmful links and why they should never hand over confidential data when prompted via email or SMS," he said.

Online fashion retailer Superbalist alerted consumers to a scam in which customers were asked to update their credit card details via a fraudulent link.

"While a few individuals were the unfortunate victims of this particular scam, many could be employees in your organisation and this lack of cyber awareness could have devastating consequences for your business," Gevers said.

He advised companies to make awareness training a priority in organisations.

"If your employees are constantly educated on all types of threats, they will think twice before clicking on harmful links and exposing your business to data or financial loss."