- Check before you click. Look out for any emails, phone calls, or SMS messages you think are suspicious, especially when payments are involved.
- Avoid oversharing on social media. You should avoid posting about any purchases you’re on the verge of making on social media. This could alert fraudsters who track social media activity.
- Stay alert. As part of the application, always check if the case handler has sent any payment requests before transferring funds.
- Report it. Report any suspicious communications as phishing. Do not participate in activities involving sharing personal details or payments.
- Protect yourself. Ensure you use antivirus-protected software, secured browsers, and an up-to-date device. Avoid accessing confidential information on public networks or devices.
- Test it. Think about sending a test transfer of £1 to the bank account before transferring the full payment to check if the bank details are correct.
- If you’d like to learn more about keeping your money safe, UK Finance’s Take 5 campaign has loads of great information, tips, and tricks. It’s an initiative we fully support: Take Five – To Stop Fraud