A new alert has been issued for all email users.
Anyone with a Gmail, Yahoo or Outlook account would be wise to take note of some new advice. The experts at Action Fraud have just posted some new rules to follow, and they could stop you from becoming a victim of cyber crime. Perhaps the biggest thing to remember before opening that batch of daily emails is to ‘stop’ and think.
“If you’ve received a text or email that doesn’t feel right, STOP!,” Action Fraud explained.
It’s so easy to open a message and be fooled into clicking on links or replying, but doing so can put you at serious risk.
Scammers are continually devising new methods of attack, including sending messages that appear to have originated from friends and family, as well as scaring people with warnings about fines or account closures.
Mirror Online recently reported on fake WhatsApp messages asking users to vote, along with scams that attempt to steal Amazon account information.
In a bid to help users stay safe, Action Fraud has now released three rules that are definitely worth taking note of.
These include being careful before replying and not calling numbers within the message.
HERE ARE 3 RULES FROM ACTION FRAUD
• Break the contact – don’t reply, click on any links, call any phone numbers or make any payments
• Check if it’s genuine – don’t use the numbers or address in the message – use the details from their official website.
• Before you delete the email, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk.
That last tip could be vital as it may stop others from becoming a victim of crime in the future.
“Your reports lead to the removal of malicious emails and websites that are used to perpetrate fraud and cyber crime,” Action Fraud confirmed.
So, be careful and watch out for any emails that simply don’t seem right.
