Scam Calls, Texts & Emails: How to Avoid Them
Scams are happening more often over recent years. With fraud and cybercrime as some of the most common types, it’s becoming harder to spot as they can seem very real. That’s why it’s important to know how to recognise fake phone calls, emails, text messages, and what to do if you get one.
What is a scam?
A scam is a fraudulent activity or scheme to trick a person out of something that belongs to them. This could be something like personal information or money. Scammers use lots of different tools to do this and it can sometimes be hard to instantly tell if something is a scam.
What does a scam look like?
Scams can be hard to spot as there are lots of different kinds. Scammers might pretend to be from trusted places, like your bank, the government, or an energy company. They could contact you by phone, email or text, asking for your payment details or personal information. They might also use real company logos or similar email addresses to look like they are from that company.
They usually try to rush you by sparking some sort of panic. They might say there’s a problem with your account or offer a deal you must act on quickly. Watch out for spelling mistakes, strange formatting, or links that look odd. If the message does not use your name, this is another sign that it could be fake.
If you’re not sure, always contact the company through their official phone number or website.
How to spot a scam
Scammers often use three main ways to trick people: emails, text messages, and phone calls. It’s common for scammers to pretend to be from a company you trust, asking for your bank or personal details. This is called an impersonation scam and is the most common type of scam.
Here’s some of the ways they might try to contact you:
>>> Phishing scam (email): They’re designed to steal your identity by ‘phishing’ for information. They usually look like they’re from a real company and ask you to click on a link. Watch out for spelling mistakes, bad grammar and different fonts to spot these.
>>> Smishing scam (text message): They’ll usually ask you to give personal information, like a password or account number. Some will claim to have noticed unusual activity in your bank account and others can be fake delivery tracking links. These usually come from unknown numbers.
>>> Vishing scam (phone call): A scammer will call you pretending to be from a trusted company. They might say you’ve been a victim of fraud and ask for personal details like your password or account number. You should never give this information to someone over the phone.
>>> Knowing about scams and what they look like is a good first step to keep safe from them. These ten tips will help you feel more prepared in spotting and avoiding scams.
10 tips to avoid scams
1. Be cautious of unknown calls or texts: If you get an unexpected phone call, you might feel that you need to pick it up and talk to the person. But remember, you do not need to respond and can block these numbers on your smartphone.
2. Legitimate companies should not ask for sensitive details: Your bank will never ask for details such as your card number or PIN over the phone.
And since 2019, there has been a ban on cold calls about pensions, so you will only be called to discuss your pension if you’ve asked the pension company to contact you.
3. Do not rush: Scammers usually try to create a sense of urgency. Make sure to take your time. If in doubt, it’s safer to hang up and contact them directly in your own time.
4. Be realistic: If an offer sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Scammers will often try to tell you what you want to hear. If you need to double-check something, contact the company directly or check their website.
5. Use strong passwords: Create passwords that have a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. You should avoid using the same password for all your accounts.
6. Protect your personal information: Shred personal documents, review your privacy settings on social media, and limit the amount of personal information you share online.
7. Never open suspicious messages: If something looks strange, it’s best not to click it. Take a screenshot on your smartphone in case you need evidence, and then delete the message straight away.
8. Never give remote access: Scammers often claim that they can fix a problem with your computer or install a ‘free upgrade’ remotely. You should not give anyone this access, as they will be able to see your personal information that sits on your device.
9. Shop safely online: Understand online security and only use secure websites with the ‘closed padlock’ to the left of the browser’s address bar. Look for this before you enter your payment details.
10. Check your bank statements: If you check this regularly, you’ll notice activity that does not look right. Many online banking apps will also allow you to get notifications when payments are made in real time. This helps give you instant visibility.
What to do if you get scammed
If you think you’ve been scammed, report it straight away. Contact your bank if your financial details have been stolen and report any suspicious messages to the National Cyber Security Centre. Citizens Advice also has a useful list of things to do if you have been the victim of a scam.