In today's digital age, protecting yourself from fraud is more important than ever. Scammers are constantly finding new ways to trick unsuspecting victims out of their hard-earned money. Here are some valuable tips and tricks to help you stay one step ahead of the fraudsters:



Check Your Password Security: Use websites like haveibeenpwnd.com to assess the security of your passwords and protect against data breaches. On this website you can also check if your email has been in association with a data leak. Just type your email account into the homepage!

Report Suspicious Emails: Mark phishing emails as junk to help your email provider identify and block scam messages.

Know Your Rights: Familiarize yourself with consumer protection laws like Section 75 of the consumer credit act, which allows you to claim back credit card transactions over £100, but under £30,000.

Utilize Chargeback and Buyer Protection: Take advantage of chargeback on debit cards and buyer protection on platforms like PayPal to dispute unauthorized transactions. Please note that if you sent money as "Friends & Family" on PayPal you will not be able to get any money back, so be careful if you're going to make a friends and family payment!

Seek Resolution: If your bank denies a fraud claim, escalate your complaint to the financial ombudsman for a chance at resolution. According to recent statistics from Which?, there is a great deal of claims that are initially denied by banking institutions which are then overturned upon escalation.

Stay Alert with Cryptocurrencies and Gift Cards: Understand that cryptocurrencies and gift cards offer no protection against scams, so exercise caution when using them for transactions. If you're being asked to create a cryptocurrency account specifically to send a payment, there is a good chance this is a scam.

Report Scams to Authorities: Forward phishing emails to the national cyber security centre at report@phishing.gov.uk to help combat online fraud. The guys on the other end of this email account have the authority to get websites removed, have links removed and have email accounts suspended. So not only will you be protecting yourself, you'll also be saving other, possibly more vulnerable, people from the attacks as well.

Establish Safe Communication: Create a safe word with family members to verify their identity during suspicious calls, and remember that AI-generated voices may struggle to replicate human laughter. If you're unsure but have your suspicious, try cracking a joke and see how the caller reacts.

By staying informed and implementing these strategies, you can safeguard yourself against the ever-evolving threat of fraud. Don't let scammers catch you off guard – take control of your security today!

If you'd like some software which could help you deal with security threats online, check out our WorkSecure Software Subscription, which includes Microsoft 365 apps as well as anti-virus support!