The Personal Data Protection Service advises Georgian citizens to exercise caution with calls and SMS from unfamiliar numbers. The Service said that responding to such calls and messages may be a threat to the Georgian citizens’ personal data.

In the case of calls, the Personal Data Protection Service recommends Georgian citizens not to answer calls from the non-standard index and block the sender, not to call back if they find missed calls, not to answer calls from abroad if the number is unfamiliar, not to share personal information if they decide to answer the call.

Regarding SMS, the Service warns that text messages from applications Messenger, WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, and Signal, are usually grammatically incorrect and are easily identified. It advises not to respond or follow links indicated in them and to be especially cautious about the messages that concern competitions, lotteries or receipt of parcels.

The Service recommends citizens install passwords on cell phones and computers or use the two-factor authentication method. Call the Service at 2421000 or contact it via social networks if questions arise.