Tag: phishing

Stay Safe Online – The Most Common Scams

Stay Safe Online – The Most Common Scams

John and Dane Rainford

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.

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 Oswestry Life magazine

#staysafeonline @actionfrauduk @WhichUK  #WeFixMacs @OswestryLife

Stay Safe Online – Scam emails that are after your passwords

Stay Safe Online – Scam emails that are after your passwords

Stay Safe Online – Two scam emails to watch out for

Cyber security alert – warning to all businesses – there is a phishing email going around which appears to come from:

IT.Support@(yourcompanyname).uk

“We are currently developing Cyber Security and Phishing Awareness training packages to be provided to the whole company. The aim of the training is to raise awareness amongst our employees regarding current Cyber threats, social engineering attacks and other forms of malicious hacking.

Once completed we hope to have a stronger response to Cyber threats, company-wide. This training will provide ongoing assurance to our Partners and Stakeholders; as well as our current client base. Please could you follow the link below so that we can prepare your Cyber Security Training package for you and once it has been prepared you will receive an email after 72 hours with detailed instructions on how to complete the training.

The training is all done online and can be completed in under 30 minutes.

Take me to my training

Many thanks,

IT Support ”

And it will have your company name and address at the bottom of the email – so, it looks really authentic.  If anyone in your organisation has clicked on the link and input credentials, then they must change their password immediately and you need to check for any security breaches.

Email scam
Watch out for this scam email that appears to come from someone you know – the fraudster is hoping you will click on the link and put in your password.  (Dropbox is file sharing software.)

Subject: (Friend’s name) sent you an important document

(Friend’s name) sent you an important document via Dropbox

Access Document

Click on the Access Document to find the attached document for your expedited option.

Thank you
(Friend’s name)

What to do – just delete the email – but let your friend know that their email has been compromised and they need to change their email password immediately.  If you have accidentally clicked on the link and put in your password – ring us 01948 840102

Sign up here for Which? Scam alerts direct to your inbox:

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.

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 Windows – desktops and laptops.    It’s a family business and we provide a personal service.

Published in the December edition of the Whitchurch Gossip

 

Stay Safe Online – Internet Banking and Mobile Apps

Stay Safe Online – Internet Banking and Mobile Apps

Stay Safe Online – Internet Banking and Mobile Apps. Your mobile phone is now one of the safest ways to pay for things and to access online banking. You can also use it for two factor authentication which makes your online access safer.

Stay Safe Online – Holiday Scams

Stay Safe Online – Holiday Scams

Holiday Scams

With the collapse of Thomas Cook and Flybe, as well as holidays cancelled due to Coronavirus restrictions, lots of people have applied for refunds for cancelled holidays.  Criminals are sending phishing emails, making scam phone calls and fake adverts offering refunds from airlines and travel companies.  Scams include links to fake websites that steal personal information and can install malware.  Criminals offer immediate payment of refunds into your bank account.  Once your bank details have been shared with the criminal, they have access to your money.

Criminals are taking advantage of demand for ‘staycations’ in the UK this summer, by advertising fake listings for holidays – and for caravans and motorhomes.  Criminals take deposits for holidays that don’t exist – and advertise caravans and motorhomes on auction sites.

Fraudsters are also very good at imitating organisations – they are expert at designing websites that look professional using photos of items that don’t exist – they can be very convincing – website names with subtle differences in the URL – fake social media accounts that look and sound like real ones.  Be alert and remember:

If an offer sounds too good to be true – it most probably is.

Research sellers and read reviews.

Never assume an email or call is from who they say they are.  Ring the company back on a number you know is correct.

Don’t click on any links or attachments in emails or social media posts.

Always access the website you are purchasing from by typing it into Google (we recommend entering it into the search bar in case you make a typing error – and you will get Google’s top choice)

Pay via PayPal or Credit Card – never by bank transfer

Another warning:  Just recently fraudsters have been requesting payment via PayPal. The PayPal invoice then fails to arrive, and the buyer is contacted by someone pretending to be from PayPal with a reference number and bank account details for payment to be made into. In effect, making the payment by bank transfer, not PayPal, so there is no guarantee of delivery and no protection – the goods never arrive and the buyer has no recourse – through Paypal or their credit card company.

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/news/uk-finance-warns-consumers-to-beware-of-coronavirus-holiday-scams

#staysafe #staysafeonline

If in doubt – ring us 01948 840102 – advice is free.