Have you spotted a suspicious email?
If you have received an email which you’re not quite sure about, forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS): report@phishing.gov.uk
Please note:
In a small number of cases, an email may not reach the Suspicious Email Reporting Service due to it already being widely recognised by spam detection services. The vast majority of reports do reach the system and, if found to contain malicious content, are acted upon automatically. We encourage you to please keep reporting any suspicious emails you receive to help prevent others from falling victim to scams.
You can still report suspicious emails online using their form.
First: Simple steps to take to help avoid scams:
- Treat all unexpected calls, emails and text messages with caution. Don’t assume they’re genuine, even if the person seems to know some basic information about you.
- Don’t be pressured into acting quickly. A genuine bank or financial services firm won’t mind waiting if you want time to think.
- Always double-check the URL and contact details of a firm in case it’s a ‘clone firm’ pretending to be a real firm, such as your bank, HMRC etc. Check the domain name preceding the extension; e.g. paypal.com is NOT the same as p-ay-pal.com
- Your Bank/Building Society/HMRC etc will NEVER send you an email/text and ask you to click an enclosed link to login. If you receive ANY communications like this and are concerned, logon using your normal method. DON’T click a link in the email/text.
- If you are worried you may have been a victim of a scam contact your Bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud.
- ‘Take Five‘ and THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK
‘Take Five’ to protect yourself from scams:
“Take Five is a national campaign that offers straight-forward and impartial advice to help everyone protect themselves from preventable financial fraud. This includes email deception and phone-based scams as well as online fraud – particularly where criminals impersonate trusted organisations.”
STOP! Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
CHALLENGE! Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
PROTECT! Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.
An excellent video by Jim Browning, shows how these scammers work.
There are plenty of good/reliable sources of information on how to protect yourself:
Genuine HMRC contact and recognising phishing emails.
Visit the Take Five website and checkout the advise there.
Halifax have some advice and information on scams.
Visit the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) website for information on how to protect yourself from scams.
Age Scotland’s excellent web pages on Scam/Fraud.
Above all, make sure your share information and concerns with the elderly and less ‘tech savvy’
#TakeFive #StopAndThink #ThinkBeforeYouClick
Advice from Trading Standards Scotland:
As Scottish communities deal with uncertainty and isolation, there is a rapidly increasing variety of scams related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Sign up to receive their weekly Scam Share e-bulletin.
Report suspicious behaviour in your community to Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency
Report all scams to Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or through their website.
Have a link to share? Contact Us if you have a link to share with others.