Email and social media users need to watch out for the growing number of scams and ignoring the latest advice could be costly.
There’s a fresh warning that’s been issued to UK homes and you’d be wise to take notice if you don’t want to become the next victim of cyber crime. The latest alert has been raised by the team at Equifax with its new research discovering that Brits handed over a whopping £5.9 million to cyber crooks last year alone.
It’s a terrifying statistic, and the most dangerous applications where users are getting caught out appear to be social media and email. Equifax says there were over 36,000 reported incidents using these platforms in 2024. That means those with Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, Facebook and Instagram accounts need to remain vigilant at all times.
Another interesting stat from Equifax is that you are more likely to become a victim depending on location. According to new analysis of National Fraud Intelligence Bureau’s (NFIB) dashboard data, the East of England is being hit the hardest over a 12-month period.
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The region had 14.9 reported incidents per 1,000 people, with losses in the totalling £722,400. South Wales closely follows with 11.8 incidents reported per 1,000 people, which is estimated to have cost residents a combined total of £16,200.
Meanwhile, London recorded 10.3 cybercrime incidents per 1,000 people across the past year, costing a staggering £849,100.
Speaking about the new stats, Phillip Davies, Chief Information Security Officer of Equifax Europe, said: “The growing sophistication of cyberattacks poses a serious threat to the economy, personal privacy, and national security. We urge everyone, from small businesses to large enterprises, to prioritise cybersecurity and take the necessary steps to protect sensitive information.
Equifax has also released some crucial steps to help consumers stay safe.
These include keeping things protected using password, fingerprint or facial recognition technology. It’s also a good idea to stay vigilant and not click on any links unless you are certain you know the sender’s identity.
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Be cautious when connecting to publicly open Wi-Fi networks which may be insecure and set up log-in notification alerts for your apps as well as making your profile private.
Using a password manager is a quick step to create stronger passwords, whilst setting up 2-factor authentication adds an additional layer of protection.
Finally, Equifax says to keep an eye on your apps. To reduce the risk of app-based cyberattacks, never download apps from third party sites. Instead, stick to official app stores such as the Apple App Store or Google Play.