Tag: computer

Stay Safe Online – Seven Ways to Stay Safe When Buying Online

Posted on December 3, 2023December 3, 2023 by Dane

Stay Safe Online – Seven Ways to Stay Safe When Buying Online

With Christmas fast approaching, we need to be even more vigilant when buying Christmas presents:

Seven Ways to Stay Safe When Buying Online:

Look for the little padlock alongside the domain name on the search bar – this shows that the connection is encrypted and any information transmitted through it is safe. But this doesn’t tell you that the website itself is safe.
Does the website have proper contact details – an email address, phone number and postal address? If not, don’t trust it with any personal information. Search for the postal address online – is it located on Google Earth?
If it’s a UK limited company you can check it is registered with companies House – and find out the names of the directors.
Before choosing a supplier – check the reviews – on sites like Google or Trust Pilot – but don’t trust everything you read, reviews can be faked too!
Genuine websites will have all the required policies – like privacy policy – and returns policy – listed on the site. But it may still be a copycat site – fraudsters copy corporate information including logos.
Remember – if it sounds too good to be true – it’s probably a scam!
Finally, if you pay via Paypal – not only is your purchase covered by their returns policy, Paypal will have already thoroughly checked out the business for you. And if you pay by credit card you are covered under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Never pay for anything by bank transfer.

Report any scams to www.actionfraud.police.uk

If you have been affected by a scam – help is out there – Victim Support has a free confidential helpline 0808 168 9111 and so does Mind 0300 123 3393.

Sign up for Which? Scam alerts: https://campaigns.which.co.uk/scam-alert-service/ Find details of recent scams here: www.actionfraud.police.uk and on our Facebook page: Rainford-it-stay safe online and on this blog on our website.

Rainford-IT are part of Strawberry Fields – Nominet Channel partners and Cisco network partners.

We register and renew domain names. We manage our own servers, email, IT and website hosting. We can fix most hardware – Macs as well as PCs. It’s a family business and we provide a personal service.

Worried about something – ring us – advice is free – 07552 863996

Published in the December edition of Oswestry Life and the Whitchurch Gossip

Stay Safe Online – watch out for current scams – celebrity impersonation scams – fake emails

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Dane

Dragon’s Den profiles are being falsely used to promote ‘clinically proven’ diet pills. Fake articles provide a link to purchase a bottle of pills – but the scammers simply steal your personal information.

Stay Safe Online – The Most Common Scams

Posted on September 20, 2023September 20, 2023 by Dane

Stay Safe Online – The Most Common Scams

THE MOST COMMON SCAMS

Phishing Scams are when scammers try to obtain personal data by getting you to click on links in emails, texts or Facebook ads which take you to dodgy look-alike websites. Current scams to watch out for include McAfee, BT, Netflix and diet pills.

Investment Scams involve fraudsters offering investment opportunities – using false figures and fake endorsements from celebrities. If it sounds too good to be true – it’s probably a scam – before thinking of investing your hard-earned cash – check with the FCA’s register.

Romance Scams typically begin on dating sites or apps with scammers establishing a relationship – then asking for money for made-up causes with a variety of reasons why they have no-one else to turn to. You can do a reverse image search to check a profile pic against known scammers – and cease contact immediately if someone asks you for money.

Shopping Scams get you to pay for items that you never receive – from dodgy websites, auction sites or via social media – event tickets being a prime example. Scammers often ask for payment via bank transfer or bitcoin – if you can’t pay by Paypal – be suspicious.

Vishing Scams – combine ‘voice’ and ‘phishing’ and involve scammers impersonating a company – like your bank – to obtain personal details. Callers will say your account has been compromised. Put the phone down and contact your bank directly – from the number on their website.

If you have been affected by a scam – help is out there – Victim Support has a free confidential helpline 0808 168 9111 and so does Mind 0300 123 3393.

Rainford-IT are part of Strawberry Fields – Nominet Channel partners and Cisco network partners.

Worried about something – ring us – advice is free – 07552 863996

Published in Oswestry Life magazine

#staysafeonline @actionfrauduk @WhichUK #WeFixMacs @OswestryLife

Stay Safe Online – EE scam phone calls – Fake WhatsApp messages – Who Called Me?

Posted on January 24, 2023 by Dane

Stay Safe Online

If your computer goes wrong, don’t automatically throw it away – unless it’s very old – we can probably fix it. We had a computer arrive the other day that had overheated – the customer said it was smoking! He did the right thing and quickly turned it off at the main socket, then unplugged it. He was lucky and, not only did we manage to retrieve all his data, we were able to replace the power supply – and it’s good for another few years; he can work on a computer he is familiar with and all his files are back where they were. So, before you give up on your computer – give us a call.

CURRENT SCAMS

EE Scam phone calls

We had a phone call the other day: “Hi, this is EE, you’re eligible for a free upgrade on your phone.” They then asked for personal information that the real EE would have already had – like full name, birth date and other phone numbers I had. I gave a false name and date of birth – so if EE ring again and ask for Rob Jones – I know it’s a scam! But the best thing to do is say: “Great, I’ll call you back, what’s your name?” which they are unlikely to agree to. If you want to check – or report the call – you can just type ‘EE Phone Number’ into the Google search bar and you will get the real EE.

Scam phone calls

If you get a phone call and don’t recognise the number, don’t answer it – if it’s someone you know they will most likely leave a message and you can call them back – if you really want to know who called you – you can look it up on who-called.co.uk

Which? Warn of scam WhatsApp messages with job offers – if you reply to a message the scammer sends more information about the job then asks you to pay for things like security checks or work equipment – termed ‘advance fee fraud’. Scammers also use fake job ads for money laundering purposes or to obtain your bank details or identity documents such as passport. Which? Have warned Fastnet that scammers are using their name to offer fake job opportunities.

If you have been affected by a scam – help is out there – Victim Support has a free confidential helpline 0808 168 9111 and so does Mind 0300 123 3393.

Rainford-IT are part of Strawberry Fields – Nominet Channel partners and Cisco network partners.

Published in the February edition of the Whitchurch Gossip

#staysafeonline @actionfrauduk @WhichUK #WeFixMacs