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How to protect yourself from online scams

Published on 20 Jun 2024

Around three million adults were victims of scams in 2023. However, as scams remain massively underreported, the National Trading Standards Scams team say the figure may actually be closer to 19 million.

Following these basic tips from our Safeguarding Lead can reduce your risk and help keep your money and identity safe from online criminals.

Don’t rush into responding

Criminals use manipulative techniques to urge you to act quickly so that you don’t have time to think and consider your next steps. For example, it may be one-off deal or a message informing you that your bank account is compromised and you urgently need to move your money. Resist the urge to rush - it's likely to be a scam.

Never give out personal information

Don't give out your name, address, bank details, email or phone number to people or organisations before verifying their credentials. Always question unsolicited calls, texts or emails requesting your personal or financial information. Better still, ignore the message or put the phone down and contact the company directly using a known email or phone number.

Treat unsolicited emails with suspicion

Many frauds start with a ‘phishing’ email inviting you to click on a link. These can look genuine, so it’s important to remember that banks and financial institutions never send emails asking you to confirm your bank details. You can always call your bank using the phone number on a genuine piece of correspondence or their website (typed directly into the address bar) to check if you’re not sure.

Scam avoidance checklist:

Think twice

Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected email or text. Take some time to think and if in any doubt at all, err on the side of caution.

Watch out for spoofs

Email addresses and phone numbers can be spoofed, so don't use those as a means to verify that a message or call is authentic.

Call known numbers

The best way to get in touch with a company is to use a known email or phone number, such as the one on the back of your bank card.

Be wary of fake websites

One way to check a website is secure is to look for the padlock symbol in the top left or right of your address bar or see if it starts with HTTPS, where the ‘S’ stands for secure.

Create strong passwords

Make sure your passwords are 16 characters or longer and include a combination of letters and numbers. And use different passwords for each of your online accounts.

What to do if you get scammed

If you have been a victim of a scam, make sure you contact your bank promptly and, for those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you can also call Action Fraud on 0300 1232040 or complete their online reporting form.

In Scotland, the guidance is to call your bank promptly and contact the police on 101.

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