Different ways criminals contact victims
Different ways criminals contact victims
Phishing
Where fraudsters send emails designed to steal your personal data, such as your bank and security information. Emails may claim to represent well-known organisations (e.g. a bank or social media site), may threaten you (e.g. deletion of accounts or prosecution) or offer incentives (e.g. a tax refund). They may contain links that take you to impersonator websites that look genuine.
Smishing
Smishing operates in the same way as phishing, however, uses SMS (text messages) which appear to be from legitimate organisations. These contain links to what appears to be legitimate websites. Fraudsters can even ‘spoof’ a genuine organisation’s number to add credence that the message is genuine. Fraudsters may also use other messaging systems and apps to communicate.
Malware Viruses
Malware is malicious software designed to interfere with the performance of electronic devices such as computers, tablets, or mobile phones.
Your device can become infected with malware viruses when you click on links, download software or files from suspicious websites and emails. These viruses can log personal information and passwords that you input onto your infected phone or computer and pass them on to a device controlled by the fraudster.
Protect yourself from Cybercrime
- Treat messages with links with caution. Consider if this is normal for the company that contacted you. Contact the organisation which the message claims to represent to check if it is genuine.
- Do not clink on any links that are unverified.
- Check the internet to identify any scams linked to the organisation.
- Ensure you only enter your bank details on secure networks, signified by a padlock in the top left-hand corner of the browser window.
- Organisations will not ask for personal data or banking information via a text message. Do not disclose passwords or PINs.
- Always have up-to-date antivirus software on your computer.
- Ensure your Firewall is switched on.
- Do not open links contained in pop-up adverts and irregular emails.
- Delete suspicious messages and report to Action Fraud.
- Spam text messages can be reported to Ofcom free of charge by forwarding to 7726.
Online Data Security
Criminals use information posted online to gather data, target victims and enable social engineering (using deception to manipulate people to get access to confidential or private information for the purposes of fraud). It is therefore essential to protect your data privacy, ensure your data is secure and to have awareness of your digital footprint (the information about you that is posted online).
Protect your Personal Data
- Understand what data is being shared with others. Review your social media settings and manage your settings when accessing web pages.
- Be careful who you connect with on social media. Criminals use fake profiles to gain access to data.
- Ensure devices are secure with passwords, facial or fingerprint recognition, and enable 2-factor authentications where possible.
- Maintain good password hygiene using a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. Avoid using repeated passwords and place the same emphasis on your security questions.
- Think about how the information you share online could be used if it was visible to a criminal.
- Monitor what people are posting about you online.
- Periodically, log out of all of your social media applications and run an internet search on your name to see what information can be found about you.
- For more information on how to protect yourself online visit the National Cyber Security Centre website.
Protecting yourself from investment fraud
Be vigilant of investments that seem too good to be true. Always do your research.
Protecting yourself from identity fraud
Criminals try to impersonate victims to steal money. You can protect yourself.
Debit & credit card fraud
Protecting your debit and credit card data is crucial in the fight against fraud.
Impersonation fraud and cloned firms
Fraudsters often impersonate others when trying to steal your money and data.
Romance scams
Fraudsters often start romantic relationships with victims in person of via dating apps and websites.
Payment redirection
Often affecting businesses, this is when a fraudster finds a way of changing payment details when paying invoices.
Cheque fraud
Make sure you don’t fall victim.
Becoming a client
Take control of your finances today by completing our enquiry form. Alternatively, you can call us on the number below and one of our team will be more than happy to talk about your future.