“If you’re searching for a particular store, make sure the URL is correct and that it has https at the start, or a little padlock – these mean it should be secure. It has free and premium versions.ĭo you use strong passwords? Photograph: RayaHristova/Getty Images/iStockphoto Online shopping “Password managers, like 1Password or LastPass, can be a great way of creating strong passwords and keeping track of them,” says Steve Goddard, the fraud and financial crime expert at Featurespace, a firm that provides tools to banks that aim to stop stolen IDs being used fraudulently.įor example, LastPass will generate and store passwords in an online “vault” that you can access through an authenticator on your phone. “If you’re not careful, you could give your bank account details to a crook.”. “When the government announced energy rebates through council tax, people started to see messages popping up saying: ‘Click here to set up your payment,’” says Jones. Once they have these details, they can order devices in your name. They have also been posing as network providers asking for details of your existing contract, so they can offer you a better deal. Fraudsters pose as legitimate firms asking the victim to share their computer screen using remote access, so they can harvest personal and financial data. Investment scams target those who need to supplement their income. “We have seen an increase in criminals posing as energy companies claiming they can offer a better deal, or as supermarkets offering money-off vouchers.” We have seen an increase in criminals posing as energy companies claiming they can offer a better deal Amber Burridge of Cifas “Fraudsters are very good at using trends to change their tactics, and at the moment the cost of living crisis is particularly hot,” Burridge says. The simple rule is, always look up the official website. If in doubt, don’t clickĭon’t click on third-party links, whether they arrive via social media posts, text messages or emails, or anywhere else. One of the latest forms of fraud is where people are contacted on WhatsApp, or via text, by crooks claiming to be family, saying they have lost their mobile and access to online banking to pay bills. And if friends or family contact you asking for financial help, get in touch straight away – they may have been targeted by fraudsters. “If you get an unsolicited call or message purporting to be from a trusted organisation, hang up and call them on a number that you know to be theirs,” Burridge says. If you receive an unsolicited call purporting to be from a trusted organisation, hang up and call them on a number you know to be theirs.
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