Fraud and scams
If you think you’ve been scammed or you’ve found something which looks like fraud or a scam, contact Action Fraud.
The National Cyber Security Centre has published advice on how to spot coronavirus scams and keep remote working safe.
- watch out for phishing (scam emails and text messages): don’t click or open anything you think looks suspicious, or reply or respond to anything asking you for your personal or financial details. Find out how to spot phishing emails
- be aware of ransomware, a form of malware that lets cyber criminals remotely lockdown files on your computer or device and prevent you from accessing them. Once locked, the files are held to ransom by the cyber criminals, who demand payment. Find out how to defend yourself and your organisation from malware and ransome attacks
- if you’re shopping online: try to use sites you or someone you trust has used before and you know are reputable
- if you’re making a purchase and can use a credit card, do. Most major credit card providers insure online purchases against fraud. Find out more staying safe online
- don’t buy goods on the doorstep
- protect your devices by installing the latest software updates