Suspicious Messages

Understanding Phishing: Protect Yourself from Scams

Phishing is a form of cybercrime where fraudsters impersonate trusted organisations or individuals to trick you into revealing personal information, such as passwords, bank details, or account information. These scams typically arrive through emails, texts, or other direct messages. Recognising the signs of phishing can help you protect your data and avoid falling victim to these scams.

Common Types of Phishing

Phishing scams come in various forms. Email phishing is the most common, where fraudsters send fake emails that appear to be from legitimate companies. These emails often contain links or attachments that, once clicked, lead to fake websites or download malicious software onto your device. Text message phishing, or "smishing," follows a similar approach, with scammers attempting to lure you into clicking harmful links or sharing personal information.

Recognising Phishing Attempts

Phishing messages often appear urgent, pressuring you to act quickly to avoid negative consequences. Look out for spelling mistakes, suspicious links, and requests for sensitive information. Reputable companies rarely ask for personal details via email or text, so if a message seems suspicious, take a moment to verify its legitimacy by contacting the organisation directly.

Steps to Stay Safe

To protect yourself, avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. Always verify the sender’s email address or phone number, as phishing attempts often use slight variations to look legitimate. Install security software and keep it updated, and consider enabling two-factor authentication on your accounts for added protection.

Report and Recover

If you think you’ve fallen victim to phishing, act quickly. Change any compromised passwords, monitor your accounts for unusual activity, and report the incident to your bank or building society. You can also report phishing attempts to your email provider and Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud reporting centre. Reporting phishing scams helps protect others and makes it more difficult for fraudsters to succeed.

Get in Touch

If you have been a victim of a scam or suspect that you have been a victim of a scam, it is important that you report this as soon as possible.

You can inform us In person at a branch, by calling or emailing savingsservices@thehaley.co.uk