Don’t Fall For This New Phishing Scam: How to Face the Fraudsters and Win

Since the dawn of time, there has always been fraudsters trying to separate people from their hard-earned cash. Whilst lies and manipulation have always been tools of the trade for any scammer, the criminals of today have another valuable resource up their sleeve.

 

 

Whether that’s phones, emails or social media, fraudsters can now use sophisticated technology to convince their victim’s that they’re legitimate… it also makes them tricky to detect. The good news? There are some simple things you can do to protect yourselves (and your hard-earned money) from scammers.

 

Don’t Fall For This Phishing Scam

Sadly, scamming is an industry on the rise- it’s estimated that more than £700,000 is lost to bank transfer scams every day. Thankfully, the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) is on the ball, documenting and investigating the latest scams, as well as warning the public not to fall for them.

The NFIB has recently issued a warning about the latest phone scam making the rounds, where the scammer will call from a number similar to their intended victim’s. The first seven digits could match your number exactly. This similarity tricks people into picking up the phone and gets them talking to the fraudsters directly.

The scammer will then pretend to be from a government organisation or law enforcement agency, tricking you into revealing your financial information to scam you out of your money. Indeed, out of the 2,110 reported scam calls in May 2021, 68% referred to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) or National Insurance as a measure to pressure the victim into disclosing personal info.

 

How to Protect Yourself From Scams

Whether it’s an email or phone scam, there are some simple measures you can take to ensure you don’t become a victim of fraud.

1. Question Everything

If you ever get an email or phone call requesting a payment, make sure you question everything. The UK Government, for example, will never notify you about unpaid fines over the phone. If you haven’t entered a competition, could you really have won a prize or money? When a situation feels off or suspicious, don’t be afraid to hang up. It’s better to air on the side of caution than lose your money to a scammer.

2. Criminals Try to Create Panic

One of the oldest tricks in the scammer’s book is to try and create a sense of urgency or panic- this clouds their victim’s judgement and encourages them to make poor decisions. Tactics could include threatening you with arrest or monetary fine or putting a time limit on when you must perform an act (i.e transfer money). If they’re creating panic, there’s a good chance they’re a scammer.

3. Don’t Be Embarrassed

Scammers prey on our politeness and decency and will often use this to keep you on the phone or replying to emails. If you suspect a call is a scammer or feel uncomfortable carrying on the interaction, don’t be afraid to simply hang up the phone and block their number. You don’t owe them your time or your money.

4. Be Careful With Email Attachments or Links

If you receive an email from an unknown source, always approach it with caution- it could be a scam email. Look out for spelling errors and long email addresses- this is usually a good indication that they’re dodgy. Be careful when opening attachments or links. If it’s from a scam email this could download malware or viruses onto your computer, leaving you vulnerable to cybercrime and data theft.

5. Report Scams

If you come across a suspected scam, you can report it to the NFIB or Action Fraud. This will ensure that they’re aware of the latest scams and can warn others about them. If you suspect you’ve fallen victim to fraud and transferred money to the scammer, alert your bank and call the police on 101. Many people can feel ashamed or embarrassed that they’ve been duped, but it can happen to anyone and you shouldn’t let that stop you from seeking justice.  

 

Elite Group IT: Here to Safeguard You Against the Scammers

Here at Elite Group IT, we know that protecting your business from scams and fraud is absolutely essential. That’s why we offer a range of advanced security solutions, fully managed by us, to ensure your business IT is never compromised by cybercriminals.

If you’re looking to up your IT security, get in touch with Elite Group IT today. Our team of network engineers has the knowledge and experienced necessary to deploy and maintain the ultimate security solution.

 

Elite Group IT is one of the island’s leading IT and unified communication providers, supplying reliable and professional IT and telecoms services to organisations seeking Connectivity, UC & Voice, Cloud Service, IT Software and Security solutions.

For more information on how Elite Group IT can help your business flourish through technology, contact us today.