Fraud Prevention

I offer talks in Havant, Hayling Island, and Emsworth to resident and community groups on how to avoid fraud, free of charge.

Please contact me via this link.  A summary of my presentation is below.

Beware of all unsolicited communication

Whenever you contact your: bank, councils, energy companies, financial organisations, or anyone else, they will always take you through security.

Email addresses, phone numbers, websites, messages and social media pages can very easily be faked.

So, whenever you are contacted by anyone: in person, via post, via email, via social media, via WhatsApp or via text message, you MUST take that person through your security.  You must never disclose personal information, and you must never click on links or phone the number in such messages. 

If you think the communicator may have been valid, search for the company on the internet, or preferably, look up your own personal records to identify a valid telephone number for the company.

Be very wary, and assume all unsolicited: calls, messages, letters and communication particularly regarding financial matters are fraudulent.  Remember, anything that seems too good to be true, almost always is.

National Cyber Security Centre Top Six Tips

  1.   Separate very secure email password
  2.   Use different strong passwords for all websites
  3.   Save passwords in browser or password manager
  4.   Turn on Two-Factor-Authentication (2FA)
  5.   Update devices (firmware and software)
  6.   Turn on backup

 

Avoid being Defrauded

   Subject    Recommendation
 Car key relay fraud   Use a Faraday cage
 Call from BT/Microsoft re PC virus   Put phone down
 Call from “Bank” re compromised a/c   Call bank on known number
 Call from “Police” re money   Phone 101 to check
 Calls about car accidents   Put phone down
 Confidential papers & with address   Shred and/or burn
 Sellers at the door goods/services   Always refuse
 Unexpected calls and texts   Call known good number
Good-looking girl/guy contact   Block - ROMANCE FRAUD
 Avoiding telephone scammers   Consider TrueCall

 

Good Practice

  • Update operating system/ firmware
  • Apply software security updates
  • Use different passwords for each website
  • Use passwords on all hardware
  • Don’t use trivial passwords
  • Update router defaults
  • Create proper backups
  • Destroy hard drives after use
  • Be cautious about using Wi-Fi outside home
  • Email - PCs vs Smartphones
  • Hover links to check validity
  • Generally, don’t click on email links
  • Go to known websites, not links in emails
  • http:// (not safe) and https:// (safe) websites
  • Be sceptical, don’t trust everything
  • Is it too good to be true?
  • Be VERY wary of the unexpected
  • Phone a friend if in doubt
  • Target you: empty rubbish/recycling bins
  • Sign up to Hampshire Alert

 

Useful Websites and email addresses

  Topic   Recommendation
  Met Police Fraud Booklet   The Little Book of Big Scams
  Suspect Romance Fraud?   Romance Fraud advice
  Sign Up to Hants Alert   Hampshire Alert Website
  Learn about Cyber Crime   Visit NCSC website
  Check for leaked data   Visit Have I Been Pwned
  Report a fraud   Visit Action Fraud
  Report a phishing email   Fwd to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  If in immediate danger   Phone 999

 

If you would like me to give a talk or seminar on how to avoid being caught out on cyber fraud, please contact me via this link.

Last updated: 21 January 2023

Main Menu