The internet is providing a lifeline to the outside world, connecting you with friends and family, letting you order online, and providing entertainment. Sadly however, criminals are investing more time than ever in creating online scams. Below are some points that we would urge you to take heed of to help keep yourself safe.
- If you receive a call from someone you don’t know, DO NOT give them access to your computer, hang up the call.
- Never give your bank details out to a stranger over the telephone. There are also scams running at the moment purporting to be from your bank, asking you to transfer funds to a ‘secure’ account following a breach. These are not true.
- If you receive a suspicious email, delete it and do not reply. Some strange emails are used to verify if your email address is working, so that they can send you a new scam in the future, and some come already loaded with scams and viruses to catch you out now. If you are unsure who the sender is and it looks to be from an organisation, find their official website and call them to check. Do not use the number in the email or the link as these can be spoof contact details.
- Do not click on links or files in an email unless you are confident they are from someone you know. Don’t forget, viruses can mimic your friend’s details and your friend’s might even have been compromised, so it’s also worth thinking if their email is normal behaviour or if you feel a bit suspicious.
- Keep your computer up to date and ensure you have up to date antivirus installed. Antivirus helps scan for and eliminate threats, while your software provider sends out security patches to combat the latest scams and security flaws. Keeping up to date is essential.
Most importantly! Trust your instincts, if something feels wrong, it probably is.
Scammers are always finding new ways to trick people. If you feel you have been tricked, don’t suffer in silence, talk to your friends and family for support. There is nothing to be embarrassed about as these criminals trick people all the time and you will not be on your own. You can also report scams to the police via the Action Fraud website:
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
If for any reason you are unsure at any point, please give us a call on 01453 700 900 and we will happily work with you to help keep you safe from these threats.