How to steer clear of scams
Gone are the days when you could easily spot a suspicious email - today’s cyber criminals are masters at catching us off-guard.
While reports indicate that cybercrime may be decreasing, it is still important to remain vigilant so that we don't see this number rising in years to come, as criminals develop new ways of accessing our private information.
It's not just our email inbox - text messages and phone calls, online accounts - anywhere you have a digital presence, including social media platforms. Scammers are getting smarter and have access to advanced digital systems, which means, to protect ourselves and stay safe online, we need to get smarter too.
How to spot a scammer
The goal of scammers is to get their hands on your money and/or information. This might seem obvious, but it’s worth keeping in mind - today’s sophisticated operators use proven techniques taken from behavioural psychology to trick you into handing over information, typically by:
- Trying to gain trust, often claiming to be from an organisation you know, for example your phone or utility company, or a financial services provider you have a relationship with.
- Leading you into responding by clicking a link, replying to a text or calling a number.
- Appealing to your emotions.
- Creating a sense of urgency.
Common cyber scams
One of the most common ways hackers gain access to your personal information is through phishing - where they pretend to be a legitimate organisation. It’s an effective method, because, at first glance, the fraudulent email or text message looks just like a genuine communication. Some typical examples of these are the failed payment scam and the PayPal notification scam.
The failed payment scam often takes the form of a simple text message, where you’re told your payment couldn’t be processed, and you’re asked to update your billing details, whilst the PayPal notification scam uses the company’s branding in an email to claim your account has been temporarily suspended, and tricking you into clicking a link to update your account information.
The biggest clues on these types of scams are to check the sending email address, name or contact number. If you’re ever in doubt if the request is genuine, don’t click the link and go directly to the organisation’s website.
Top tips to stay cyber safe
- Keep all software and apps up to date.
- Always use a strong, distinct password.
- Consider switching to a dedicated password manager.
- Be wary of receiving an email or text asking you to update your account details.
- Never assume a phone call is genuine just because someone knows your name and address.
Cyber protection starts at home
You are your own first line of defence – the more aware you are of how cybercriminals operate and how you can protect yourself, the more resilient you become. But it’s also important to have the right cover - your privacy, data and assets need specialist cover, just as your home and contents do. Which is why Personal Cyber cover comes as standard with NFU Mutual Bespoke Home Insurance policies.
