Fraud is massively on the rise. Police are seeing methods using technology as a way to obtain personal details. Finding ways to access online bank accounts. As more is moved online like insurance renewals, banking, taxing your car, applying for a prescription we are more at risk than ever before.
Fraudsters target victims through a variety of ways. It can be emails, text messages, telephone calls and through the post. It is important to stay safe when receiving any message or call and act with caution at all times.
Action Fraud reported that over 32 million phishing emails have been reported to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS). With more than a third of all emails reported in the last year. Emails are clever, they are designed to look exactly the same as a genuine email from the sender. The header is cleverly worded to seem genuine further adding to the illusion it is from a reliable sender.
Emails from trustworthy brands such as well known banks and building societies, the DVLA, HMRC have all been used in the attempt to mislead and take advantage of people. The National Crime Security Centre have advised that it used to be easier to spot scam emails. They would often contain spelling mistakes and come from an unusual email address. But advise that the scams are getting smarter and some even fool the experts.
Scammers work with the hope of gaining your trust. They apply pressure to get you to act without thinking. For example a letter from the DVLA may say failed car tax payment. This of course could result in you receiving a fine. This emotion makes people act in a fearful way and this can impact their ability to clearly think about the email received. Which makes you click on a link to pay the tax which isn’t from the DVLA but sending your money straight to the scammers.
A local doctors surgery in Redditch recently shared information of a scam to obtain patient details. People were been telephoned advising that they needed to update their patient details over the telephone or they would be removed from the GP Practice list. Such personal information would be of huge benefit to fraudsters for future scams. With the thought of been struck off the patient list creating panic and fear for the individual called.
It is important to always be vigilant such attacks can happen at work, on your personal emails, text messages or on the telephone. Always check the source of the message is the email address correct? Does a message come from an unknown or unrecognised number. Banks and other sources advise that they will never ask for personal details via email or telephone call and never ask you to confirm your bank account numbers. If you are suspicious of anything then do not click on links and do not continue with the telephone call, you can always call the organisation yourself to verify.
Another way to be safer online is to use different passwords for different websites. Microsoft advise passwords should be at least 12 characters long but 14 is better. These should be a combination of uppercase, lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Users can also consider using a 2-step verification where you are sent a PIN or code, often via SMS or email. You will need to enter this pin to prove it’s really you.
It is always important to remember to be safe online. Double check emails and text messages you receive and telephone calls from unknown numbers. You can report anything you think is fraudulent to Action Fraud. You can find more details about how to do this on their website www.actionfraud.police.uk
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