From shopping for our groceries, to attending virtual work meetings (hello Zoom!), to completing applications, we’ve had to move more of our daily activities online. And as we ease back into the new ‘norm’, it’s natural to become complacent. But scammers and cyber criminals are still at large. So, we need to remain vigilant in order to protect ourselves on the internet. <br> <br> The coronavirus pandemic saw a huge rise in online scams – with scammers and cyber criminals exploiting the unprecedented situation, to try and con people out of their money; often targeting the most vulnerable among us. Research by <a href="https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/about-us1/media/press-releases/one-in-three-brits-targeted-by-a-scammer-so-far-during-lockdown/2" target="_blank">Citizens Advice</a> found that more than a third (36%) of people had been targeted by scammers during the initial lockdown. Meanwhile, experts from the UK cybersecurity agency <a href="https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/ncsc-release-acd-year-4-report" target="_blank">the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)</a> reported a 15-fold rise in the removal of online scams using NHS branding to dupe victims. <br> <br> Scammers have used the pandemic to focus on topics of concern. For example, some consumers have received fake government text messages claiming to be from HMRC promising tax rebates. A similar scam was used to trick users into sharing their login and payment details, for popular video streaming services and online retailers. There’s even been an emergence of phishing emails, pretending to be from NHS Test and Trace. All of these scams were designed to look legitimate and either collect personal and financial information or download viruses onto a user’s device. <br> <br> Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated – so much so, that UK Finance, the body that represents the banks, building societies, and credit card companies, has published a list of the <a href="https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/covid-19-press-releases/uk-finance-reveals-ten-covid-19-scams-the-public-should-be-on-high-alert-for" target="_blank">top frauds</a> to be wary of. <br>
<br> <br> So, what can you do to try and protect your money from the Covid scammers and cyber criminals in general? As part of our Safe and Secure campaign, we’ve put together this handy guide of different factors you should consider regarding online security – here are our top ten: <br> <br> 1. Never share your personal details or financial information <br> <br> If you receive an unexpected phone call, text, or email, never share your personal information such as a PIN or password. Legitimate organisations like Caxton will never ask you for your pin or full password. So, if you’re uncertain, don’t respond and instead contact Caxton directly. <br> <br> 2. Never agree to move your money or make a payment, if you’re contacted by phone <br> <br> Just as no bank or organisation (like Caxton) will ever ask you for your passwords, they will never call you and ask you to make a transaction over the phone. There have been instances where scammers pose as a bank employee and contact legitimate customers, informing them they've been a victim of attempted fraud in a bit to trick them into moving their money with their assistance. If you ever receive such a call, immediately hang up and contact your bank using an official phone number from their website. And don't forget to check what activities a business does on their website or the <a href="https://register.fca.org.uk/s/" target="_blank">Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register</a>, if you do have to transfer your money. <br> <br> 3. Use strong passwords and update them regularly <br> <br> It's easy to choose a memorable password. However, the best password is one that's impossible for anyone to guess. We recommend you invest in the time to change your password frequently. Plus, do not use the same password for every account. If a criminal gets ahold of one password, chances are they will try and use it to access your other accounts. Every individual password should contain a minimum of eight characters, including at least one upper case letter, one numerical digit, and one special character (?!£$%). This will ensure your account is as secure as possible. It’s equally as important to update your passwords on a regular basis. Even if scammers manage to access your personal information, hopefully, it will be out of date before they're able to use it. <br> <br> 4. Protect yourself with two-factor authentication <br> <br> Your Caxton account is protected by an additional layer of security, known as two-factor authentication. It helps protect your account via two security checks when you log in. For example, alongside a prompt for your password, your account may require a one-time-use code (OTC), which is texted to you. So even if the scammers have your password, they won’t have access to your phone; making it an ideal way to protect yourself during online activity. <br> <br> 5. Ensure your technology is up-to-date, and use a secure internet connection <br> <br> If you use a banking or retail store app on your phone or tablet, make sure you have the most up-to-date version and always update it when your operating system (OS) prompts you to. You should also ensure your device's OS itself is the newest version, as it will include the latest virus protection. Do the same with your computer, to ensure you have the latest software and antivirus protection installed. Always use a secure internet connection when accessing your apps. <br> <br> 6. Beware of phishing emails and text messages <br> <br> The pandemic has seen a huge rise in phishing scams, but here are some signs to look out for:
- Spelling or grammatical errors
Spam emails will often contain mistakes. If an email is poorly written, it’s likely to be fake. - Generic greetings “Dear sir / madam” could be a clue that an email is a scam. However, more sophisticated phishing emails will use your name.
- Email address Check that the email is really coming from who it says it is. Often, scammers will use a similar email address to a legitimate sender, but it may include a slightly different spelling.
- Links and attachments Be very careful with emails containing links and attachments. Take care to only click if you are 100% sure the email is genuine; as these can direct you to fake websites or unknowingly encourage you to download viruses onto your device.
- If in doubt, don't do it If you’re in doubt about whether an email is authentic, don’t open it or click on the links. Instead, contact the supposed sender using the trusted contact details found on their official website. <br> <br>
7. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is <br> <br> It’s not just scams offering tax rebates or Covid grants. Criminals will often contact people by phone or email, claiming to offer amazing investment opportunities or items at incredible prices. Never agree to anything over the phone, and always take time to check the official website of any organisation or company– and search for it yourself online, rather than use the web address provided by the caller. <br> <br> 8. Look out for bogus websites and use store apps <br> <br> Lockdown has led to a rise in the number of people shopping online, and continues to be popular for people stuck at home. But this also means you’re more at risk of fake website scams. Double check the URL of the site you're visiting, especially if you arrived at it via a link in an email. Caxton will never ask you to link through to a site which is not caxtonfx.com/, or log into your account which is not https://myaccount.caxtonfx.com/account/login. <br> <br> You should always see a padlock icon displayed alongside in the URL in the browser address window. This confirms the page you are visiting is secure. Double check that there is a physical address associated with the company, and look up the company’s profile on sites such as Trustpilot or Feefo. You can also check the company’s Facebook page for reviews. <br> <br> 9. Beware of romance fraud <br> <br> Millions of people turn to online dating apps or social networking sites to meet someone. But in place of finding true romance, in some cases, they may find a scammer trying to trick them into sending money. The scammers create fake profiles online and strike up a relationship with their targets to build their trust; sometimes talking or messaging several times a day. <br> <br> The scammer then proceeds to make up a story and ask for money; usually via an international transfer, with pre-paid cards or gift cards, to gain cash quickly and remain anonymous. <br> <br> 10. What if you've been scammed? <br> <br> If you think you've been contacted by a scammer, or even fallen foul of a scam, please immediately contact your bank or financial services institution (Caxton etc.). And remember to check if there is any suspicious activity or transactions on your account. <br> <br> If you’re heading off on a UK staycation, remember to take advantage of fee-free spending in the UK when you pay using your Caxton pre-paid currency card. Log into your Caxton account today to top up, view transaction overviews, and much more. And if you're also considering international travel, check out our latest Travel Tracker tool – so you know what you need to do before, during, and after travel. If you’re yet to register an account with us and would like to find out more, discover how to spend and send your money at home (and abroad!) in a smarter, more secure way.