How to avoid scams
Learn about the different types of scams and the warning signs to look out for.
Learn about the different types of scams and the warning signs to look out for.
Most of us will be targeted by scammers at some point. Their goal is to trick us into giving them our money or revealing personal data they can use to steal from us. Their opportunistic natures have also meant that Coronavirus related fraud has been on the rise, so to avoid getting caught, read our helpful tips below.
If you've never heard of the organisation, and you haven't been in touch with them before, you should be suspicious.
A common scammer's tactic is to ask for some money upfront with greater rewards following later. If this happens, it’s almost certainly a con.
...it probably is. Be sceptical of claims of easy money and big prizes, especially if they ask for you to give money or your bank details.
No organisation should require an answer straight away. If they put you on the spot, refuse. If they’re legitimate, they'll be happy to wait.
Some scammers will contact you telling you that you’ve been hacked and want to confirm your details or tell you to move your money into a second account for safety. Never give any personal details to someone that has contacted you, and always get in contact with the company or bank in question directly.
Ignore any mail, emails or websites with lots of errors. Legitimate organisations know better.
Organisations normally want publicity for special offers or competitions. They'd never ask you to keep secrets from friends and family.
Organisations who’ve obtained your details legitimately will refer to you by your first name or surname, rather than ‘dear sir’ or ‘hello madam’. And they’d never refer to you by an online username or nickname.
Don't give personal details to anyone if you're not sure who they are, especially if they're asking for bank details. Anyone contacting you should have some details already - ask them what they know and how they got that information.
Organisations shouldn't hesitate to offer a phone number or address. They should have a landline, not a mobile number (beginning 07) or premium rate number (beginning 09).
Be wary of PO Box addresses - that won't tell you their location. If someone shows up at your door, ask for ID. Don’t trust a number or address you get on an email or letter, use the details they have on an official website.
Some scammers will encourage you to hang up and call your bank straight away. If they do this, either use a different phone line to contact your bank or wait 10 minutes to ensure the fraudster is no longer on the line.
If you suspect you have received a scam regarding a pension, contact the Pension Advisory Service for advice.
A great way to protect yourself online is to have strong passwords for any account that you have. Have a look at some of the below methods and advice on how to create a strong password.
To help you keep you protected from online attacks it's important that you have antivirus software installed on your devices. Whilst they can't stop every cyber attack, they will help prevent hackers from getting into your mobile or computer.
Not all threats to a computer are designed to steal information or corrupt it, but that doesn't mean that it isn't dangerous. All breaches are designed to take advantage of what is known as a vulnerability, or weakness, in a computers software or operating system.
Here are a few key ways to help prevent spyware from infiltrating your computer or mobile:
Scammers can also steal your details via thrown away documents that have personal information on them. To further protect yourself, ensure anything that shows personal details is scribbled out, ripped up, or even better, shredded using a shredder.
If a scammer is pretending to be a real organisation, contact the real company and let them know about it. Some other authorities you can contact are below.