Although technology is great, there are still harmful uses for the internet which can leave people and businesses out of pocket and scammed. It’s vital to do your research in terms of scamming because it can easily happen to you. Scammers don’t need to see you face to face to steal money and get your private information, they can do it via the power of the internet with their computer skills.
In the news recently, we have seen that telecom provider TalkTalk has been brought down by what they call a ‘significant and sustained cyber-attack’ on its website. They fear that some of their customer’s private data may have been accessed, which undoubtedly has caused panic amongst TalkTalk customers. Con-artists could contact TalkTalk customers using their contact details as a way to gain further sensitive information.

How can you as a person or business avoid being scammed?

There are many types of scams that these scam artists use to get what they want. Below are a couple of common ones to beware of and avoid.

Phone Scam

The problem with these phone scams is that they could have some of your information, usually phone numbers and names. They can then use this information to try to obtain your card and bank account details. They often do this by calling you on behalf of another company, say TalkTalk in this case. You will assume it’s them because they may say your name or use phrases such as ‘you have an account with us’ or ‘your bill is overdue’. The aim is to make you panic and unfortunately it’s natural that many people will panic and believe every word that the stranger on the phone from ‘TalkTalk’ is saying.
Often you can tell if it is a scammer because they may ask for personal details about you and your account like passwords and pin codes. TalkTalk (like most companies) advise that they would never ask for such private information, especially over the phone. It’s therefore important to stop and think, are the questions that are being asked  relevant to opening your account with TalkTalk or your bank account? Daniel Dresner from the University of Manchester told BBC Breakfast ‘If you’re talking to somebody, think whether what you are saying is exactly the kind of information which would open up your bank account.’ If it is then that is the sort of information a company like TalkTalk would not ask for.
Some scammers even create a customer or account reference number to seem legitimate, when in fact it’s a made up set of numbers and letters. If you’re not sure who you are speaking to is legitimate, you should always call TalkTalk back directly after the call. Ask for a reference number from the caller and then call TalkTalk yourself on 0870 444 1820. However, before calling another number ensure that you have a dial tone, this is another ploy for scammers to listen in on your call.

Email Scam

With editing programs such as Adobe Photoshop, it is extremely easy for scammers to create realistic looking emails and company logos. With email it is often easier to pretend to be a certain company. A scammer can achieve this by creating a realistic layout, font and company logo in no time with the right skill set. It is also very easy to send an email from a spoofed, and legitimate looking, email address. Scammers have many tactics to come across as a genuine company, one of their most successful ways is by referring to cyber-attacks in the email itself. They will act as a voice of reason by providing ‘advice’, but this is a ploy to trick you and make you believe that they are a legitimate company.
You should always have a mind-set to never hand over personal information over the phone or via email. Using this mind-set for each phone call and email you receive, should help protect you against scammers. It is also wise to not click on links that are listed on an email you have received. Criminals are extremely clever and they will use their IT skills to create authentic looking websites which are accessed when you click on the link that can then be used to  steal your personal information and bank details.
If you fear that you may have fallen for a scam, then make sure that you keep an eye on your bank account regularly. Monitoring your bank account can really help you out, especially if you see suspicious transactions. You should be able to look through your recent transactions and be able to identify the payments you have made. If you do not recognise certain transactions then you need to visit or call your bank immediately. Criminals always begin by making small transactions, which soon add up.
Our final point to avoid being scammed or hacked is to never re-use passwords. If the hackers have accessed private information of yours, they may know or be able to work out your password. This means that you should change your password to something case sensitive and completely unpredictable, ideally a phrase rather than a word with extra characters and numbers. In terms of the latest TalkTalk scam, if you’ve used passwords for that account and you use it for other accounts like banking, online shopping and social media, then you should ensure you change these passwords immediately.
There are three C’s to avoid being conned – Caution, composure and common sense.
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