How to protect yourself from fraud

A “legitimate” company asks for personal information

A fraudster will often impersonate a trusted source (such as a bank or finance provider) to trick you into thinking you’re dealing with a legitimate company.

If a so-called trusted source requests personal information from you, such as your bank account details or passwords, it’s likely this is a scam. You should always hang up / ignore the email and contact the company via a number you know to be genuine if you receive a request like this.

Be extremely wary of links or attachments you weren’t expecting, even if it purports to come from a legitimate organisation. If you have any reason to be suspicious, don’t click!

You're contacted out of the blue

If you are cold called or emailed, it could be a scam. You should never answer or respond unless you have been expecting contact from a specific person or business.

Pay particular attention to the greeting… did the email or the person on the phone know your name? If not, be very suspicious.

The pressure's on

You may be put under pressure to make a payment quickly, or you may be offered a limited-time only opportunity, but always take your time and stay vigilant.

Remember, fraudsters don’t want you to have time to think – they’re relying on you to make an impulsive mistake. Reputable companies will never put you under pressure in this way.

You’re asked to pay for something in an unusual way

Be wary if you’re asked to make an upfront payment into a bank account or transfer money via an unusual method (such as gift cards or vouchers).

Your bank (or any other reputable organisation, for that matter) will never ask you to transfer money to a “safe” account to protect you, nor will they ask you to withdraw money or make purchases and give it to them for safe keeping.

The correspondence is poorly written

We’ve all made the odd typo here and there. But when a piece of communication is coming from a reputable individual or business, you expect it to be written in a professional manner.

Look out for typos or grammatical errors. Hastily drafted emails or texts littered with mistakes are a red flag.

An offer sounds too good to be true

You know the saying – if something’s too good to be true, it usually is. Don’t trust any claims that an offer, scheme or opportunity offers guaranteed returns or suspiciously tempting rewards. If in any doubt, seek independent professional advice.