Urgent Alert: Beware of Fraudulent Websites
Dear WONCA Community,
We wish to inform you about a critical issue concerning fraudulent websites that are impersonating the official WONCA Europe 2024 Conference. These websites are designed to deceive visitors into believing they are interacting with our legitimate conference site, with the intent of collecting personal and financial information fraudulently.
What Happened?
Recently, two websites surfaced, claiming to be associated with the WONCA Europe 2024 Conference. These websites, which mimic the official content and appearance of our legitimate site, are attempting to mislead individuals into making payments or providing sensitive information.
Immediate Actions Taken
We have identified the fraudulent domains and reported them to the relevant authorities. We have requested the immediate suspension of these websites to prevent further harm. Additionally, we have taken steps to ensure that these fraudulent sites are not promoted through search engines or other online platforms.
What Are the Risks, and How Can You Protect Yourself?
If you have visited www.woncaeurope2024.org and interacted with our official site, your information is safe. Our systems have not been compromised, and there is no risk to your data.
However, if you have visited a different site claiming to be associated with the WONCA Europe 2024 Conference and entered personal or payment information, we advise you to take the following steps immediately:
- Contact Your Credit Card Issuer: If you provided credit card details on the fraudulent site, notify your credit card company immediately to prevent unauthorized transactions.
- Report the Incident: We strongly recommend filing a report with your local authorities if you suspect that your information has been compromised.
Why Do These Phishing Websites Exist?
Phishing websites like these are created by cybercriminals to steal sensitive data, such as credit card information, by posing as legitimate websites. These fraudulent sites can look very convincing, often copying the content and design of the official sites they are impersonating. Always ensure you are on the correct domain before entering any information.
How to Recognize and Avoid the Fraud
To protect yourself from these scams:
- Always check the website URL before entering any personal or payment information. The only official website for the WONCA Europe 2024 Conference is www.woncaeurope2024.org.
- Be cautious of unsolicited emails or messages claiming to be from WONCA that direct you to different websites. If in doubt, visit our official site directly rather than clicking on links in emails.
- Report suspicious websites to us immediately at [email protected].
Example of the Fraudulent Website
Below are screenshots from one of the fraudulent websites impersonating WONCA Europe 2024. Please note the deceptive similarity to the official site:
Screenshots of the fraudulent website attempting to impersonate the WONCA Europe 2024 Conference site.
What We Are Doing to Combat This
We are actively working with cybersecurity experts and relevant authorities to ensure that these fraudulent websites are taken down as quickly as possible. We are also enhancing our online security measures to prevent future incidents.
Stay Informed
We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will keep you updated on any further developments. Your security and the integrity of the WONCA Europe 2024 Conference are our highest priorities.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation.