Anyone in the UK with an email account needs to watch out for scams and report anything suspicious.
A new alert has been issued to UK email users, and anyone with a Gmail, Yahoo or Outlook account would be wise to take note. The latest warning has come via the team at Action Fraud in a bid to help reduce the chances of people being caught out by scams.
Cyber crooks continue to release dangerous messages on a daily basis, but by following some simple rules and sending suspect emails to the national fraud and cyber crime reporting service, it can cut down on successful attacks taking place.
According to Action Fraud, the total number of phishing scams reported to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) has reached over 41 million since its launch in April 2020.
This has helped remove over 200,000 scams from the web.
READ MORE: Fire TV Stick users given 48-hour alert – popular feature is being blocked tomorrow
For those not in the know, phishing is a type of threat that aims to get email users handing over data or clicking on dangerous links. It’s a popular method and can be highly lucrative for online criminals.
“We know it can be difficult to spot fake messages or tell if a call is genuine,” said Superintendent Amanda Wolf, Head of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau at the City of London Police.
“Criminals can change tactics fast and use the technology available to constantly create genuine-looking emails and messages or facilitate calls that feel authentic – all designed to trick us and try and steal personal and financial information.
“Every phishing email reported helps us gain a better understanding of the tactics being used and enables us to tackle it head on by identifying malicious URLs trending in phishing emails and texts – they can be taken down and disrupted, preventing further activity. The more reports received, the more people we can protect, preventing them from becoming victims.”
If you receive something in your inbox that doesn’t look or feel right, the advice is simple: STOP and think before opening, clicking on links or responding.
As Action Fraud explains, “If you’ve received an email that doesn’t feel right, STOP!”
READ MORE: Sky offers UK homes free broadband upgrade – check your Wi-Fi router today
Four rules have also been released, which include: Don’t reply • Don’t click on any links • Don’t call any phone numbers • Don’t make any payments.
“Check if it’s genuine: contact the organisation directly using an email address or phone number you know is correct, e.g. from your utility bills, via a search engine, on the back of your card or by calling 159 for banks,” Action Fraud added.
Finally, before you delete the email, forward it to [email protected]. This will make sure the cyber team are aware of it and can start blocking more messages in future.
“Since 2020, over 41 million phishing attempts have been reported to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service — a powerful sign that the public is staying alert to online threats, helping to protect themselves and others,” said Sarah Lyons, NCSC Deputy Director for Economy and Society Resilience.
“But cyber criminals aren’t giving up – they’re constantly finding new ways to trick people into clicking malicious links, sharing personal information, or handing over money.
“That’s why it’s more important than ever to stay alert. You’ll find clear, practical advice on how to spot and report scams – and how to stay secure online – on the NCSC website.”