How to Stay Safe Online

 

Tips for staying safe online

Let’s talk cybersecurity! Over the last few years my elderly parents and relatives have become more and more involved with using Facebook and Whatsapp. The catalyst for this for my parents was the COVID 19 lockdowns. Their sense of isolation was made much less by being able to see what their friends and family were up to and to communicate with them on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis.

So both parents were furnished with smart phones and taught how to have live chats with family and friends using Facebook messenger and video calling via Whattsapp. The learning part was a painful process on mine and my sisters’ part – we had to show them how to operate these apps in minute detail, probably talking them through the process at least 50 times until it eventually sunk in!! If my dad asks me one more time how to turn his phone torch on I may scream and run away.

Despite the challenges, they are both happily video calling, sending texts, availing of Facebook to connect with friends and family and sharing photos, so overall a great success. But this leads me to the issue of ensuring they stay safe from potential scams, of which there are many.

Some of the most recent reported ones include the “Mum and Dad scam”. This is where scammers target people on Whatsapp pretending to be their son or daughter experiencing an emergency situation where they had to get a new phone so cannot access their online banking and need to get a bill paid immediately. The scammers create this sense of urgency and panic and many people, assuming it is a loved one they are helping out, make the payment. According to Action Fraud over £1.5 million has been lost to this scam. The advice given by the City of London Police is “Stop. Think. Call”. Their advice is to call the person on their phone number that you have for them and speak to them to clarify.

Personally, I have advised my parents, family and friends that I will never, ever text them asking for money or to pay a bill for me and if they receive a text like this never to respond and call me immediately. It is easy to see why people can fall for this scam as the scammers behind these schemes use social engineering techniques to exploit peoples built in natural inclination to help when they can.

According to CIFAS, online fraud cases are set to increase dramatically as a result of the cost of living crisis. As people are searching for ways to get better deals and save money, they are increasingly being targeted by phishing emails purporting to offer discounts and savings.

There are various way to protect yourself and a number of excellent sites which can help you to do just that. Take Five is an excellent online resource which advises users on straightforward ways to be “Scam-Savvy” and also provides online videos showing you how to spot the difference between genuine and scam emails and text messages.

 

Another is the National Cyber Security Centre who provide some excellent, easy to understand infographics for individuals and families on various themes from Phishing, Protection from viruses and malware to Password protection advice. They also provide clear and concise guidance on being cyber aware and protecting yourself online at https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/information-for/individuals-families

 

 

An important piece of advice if you have been the victim of a scam is to report immediately! Some people are too embarrassed as they think they have been silly for falling for a scam, so it is important to know that, according to the Citizens Advice Bureau “Almost three quarters (72%) of adults aged 18 and over have been targeted by scammers in the last 2 years” and that “While over 55s are most likely to be targeted, those 34 and under are almost five times more likely to fall victim to a scam than their older counterparts”

Reporting is key as this is the only way scammers can be caught and awareness can be raised so others don’t fall for the same scam.