ONLINE SAFETY

ONLINE SAFETY

SCAMS

INTRODUCTION

• According to CIFAS, an organisation that tries to prevent fraud and financial crimes:
• Scammers stole £11.4 billion from UK people in last 12 months
• And that’s a HUGE underestimate - under-reporting
• Consumers lost £1400 on average
• A few tips today to avoid them

AGENDA

What we are going to cover?

• “Hi Mum” Scam
• Email Scam
• Passwords
• Current Scams
• Summary

SCAMS

SCAM 1 - "Hi Mum"

The “Hi MUM” Scam

WHATSAPP - OR OTHER MESSENGER

HI MUM - HELP

The “Hi MUM” Scam

WHATSAPP - OR OTHER MESSENGER

HI MUM - HELP

Whats WRONG?

The “Hi MUM” Scam

WHATSAPP - OR OTHER MESSENGER

HI MUM - HELP

Whats WRONG?

I’m texting you off a friend's phone I’ve smashed mine

The “Hi MUM” Scam

WHATSAPP - OR OTHER MESSENGER

HI MUM - HELP

Whats WRONG?

I’m texting you off a friend's phone I’ve smashed mine

HOW DID YOU DO THAT?

The “Hi MUM” Scam

WHATSAPP - OR OTHER MESSENGER

HI MUM - HELP

Whats WRONG?

I’m texting you off a friend's phone I’ve smashed mine

HOW DID YOU DO THAT?

Their phones about to die, can you WhatsApp my new number 07432555086 please x

The “Hi MUM” Scam

WHATSAPP - OR OTHER MESSENGER

HI MUM - HELP

Whats WRONG?

I’m texting you off a friend's phone I’ve smashed mine

HOW DID YOU DO THAT?

Their phones about to die, can you WhatsApp my new number 07432555086 please x

OK HERE I AM - Are YOU ok?

The “Hi MUM” Scam

WHATSAPP - OR OTHER MESSENGER

HI MUM - HELP

Whats WRONG?

I’m texting you off a friend's phone I’ve smashed mine

HOW DID YOU DO THAT?

Their phones about to die, can you WhatsApp my new number 07432555086 please x

OK HERE I AM - Are YOU ok?

In a real mess can you pop me enough money to get a new phone

“HI MUM” SCAM

THAT FAST

• LOOK AT IT
• A lie
• Panic
• NO ANSWERS
• RUSH you
• Take control
• THEN ask for money

“HI MUM” SCAM

NOT JUST WHATSAPP

• Also Text Messages
• Facebook Messenger
• Instagram
• etc

“HI MUM” SCAM

SAFETY STRATEGY

• ASK A QUESTION
• Take back control
• DON’T get diverted
• eg “What’s the family safe word?”
• “Where does the dog hide Squeaky?”

WHO STARTED THIS

BOGUS EMAIL - AND THE “HOVER” TEST

I RECEIVED THIS

WHO STARTED THIS

BOGUS EMAIL - AND THE “HOVER” TEST

WHO STARTED THIS

BOGUS EMAIL - AND THE “HOVER” TEST

WHO STARTED THIS

BOGUS EMAIL - AND THE “HOVER” TEST

WHO STARTED THIS

BOGUS EMAIL - AND THE “HOVER” TEST

WHO STARTED THIS

BOGUS EMAIL - AND THE “HOVER” TEST

• Also DVLA
• NHS
• Council
• DPD / Amazon / Royal Mail etc
• TEXT MESSAGES

SCAMS BASICS

PHISING EMAILS

• “Your parcel couldn’t be delivered” or “Pay your TV licence now”
• Fake links and attachments

WHO STARTED THIS

BOGUS EMAILS AND WEBSITES

• Website google.co.uk
• The LAST LETTERS tell you the country
• UK is expected
• JP, IO, JN etc are NOT normal

PASSWORDS

https://www.bankofsomewhere.co.uk

The company or organisation name

The S means that your communication and data passing though this website is secure and enrypted

The country the website is in

Type of organisation Org - organisation Co – company Gov - government

PASSWORDS

SECURE PASSWORDS

• I HATE PASSWORDS
• YOU hate passwords
• EVERYONE hates passwords
• EVERYONE NEEDS PASSWORDS

SECURITY TOOLS

SECURE PASSWORDS

• NEVER EVER a book of passwords
• NOT simple - complex far, far, far better
• mdznfof-kofrkyS-xonby0
• Password Managers!

SECURITY TOOLS

PASSWORD MANAGERS

• Apple iCloud - built in
• Ones you can pay for:
• Dashlane
• NordPass
• 1PassWord
• NOT LastPass!
• Free with FireFox and Chrome
• But not as flexible

SCAMS BASICS

Romance Scams

• VERY common
• Last attempt on me was 1pm yesterday!
• AVERAGE loss £10,000
• Under reported
• False relationships

SCAMS BASICS

Romance Scams

• Often start slowly
• Build to asking money
• VERY clever

SCAMS

NUMBER “SPOOFING”

• Caller Display lies
• Too easy to spoof
• ANYONE can do in minutes
• SOME progress in reducing it
• CAN’T believe Caller Display
• IN FACT - if the number shown is the one on your bank card - 100% SCAM

SCAMS BASICS

DONT BE MISLED

• Scammers never sleep, they will message you about:
• HMRC / National Insurance
• Hotmail password reset
• Paypal
• Your bank
• etc etc

WHO STARTED THIS

WHEN THEY MAKE CONTACT

• STOP
• (Hang up the phone!)
• DO NOTHING
• Catch your breath
• Have a cuppa
• Get the number for “whoever”
• and call / chat to them

SCAMS

GOLDEN RULES

SCAMS

GOLDEN RULES

Never provide your card details

SCAMS

GOLDEN RULES

NEVER EVER give out your PIN

SCAMS

GOLDEN RULES

Don’t tell them any website username or password

SCAMS

GOLDEN RULES

Keep your personal details SECRET

Text

SCAMS

GOLDEN RULES

NEVER DOWNLOAD ANYTHING TO YOUR DEVICE

SCAMMED??

WHAT DO I DO?????

• MONEY INVOLVED? CALL YOUR BANK NOW!
• NOW!
• Red face from over-reaction better than loss of funds
• Current reporting <10%

SCAMMED??

KEEP DEVICES UP TO DATE

SCAMMED??

BANK CALLING YOU?

• HOW do you know it is genuine?

SCAMMED??

BANK CALLING YOU?

SAFETY FIRST

STAYING SAFE

SCAMS

Staying Safe

• If scammed TELL people
• And get them to tell others
• Warn on social media
• Police? Action Fraud? Lawyer?

SCAMS

Staying Safe

• Texts?

Forward to 7726

• email? Forward to

report@phishing.gov.uk

SCAMS

Staying Safe

SUMMARY

SOURCES

• Trading Standards Scotland

https://www.tsscot.co.uk/scamshare/

• Consumer Association (Which?)

https://campaigns.which.co.uk/scam-alert-service/

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

• Risks are REAL BUT SMALL
• Taking precautions cuts risk significantly
• Being informed and wise makes it safer still
• LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER!!!!