Meaning of phishing and How you can spot a phishing scam

A phishing scam usually begins with an email which may link to a fake website, a text or an unexpected call, which looks, sounds and even feels like it’s from a genuine business.

The email or website might have all the right logos and fonts. It could even look like an internal company email.

What can I do if I receive a suspicious email?

·       Don’t click on any of the links and do not provide any personal or financial information

·       Do not take any action directed in the email without satisfying yourself that it is legitimate

·       Check the actual email address

·       If you believe it is a spam or phishing attempt report the email as a spam to your mail provider

·       Delete the email.

If you followed any link and were asked to provide log on information, then please read the following guidance:

If you attempted to log in using 3rd party credentials such as your Gmail logon, Apple id etc., you should immediately change the password associated with that account

If you provided any personal financial information you should contact your bank or financial institution immediately

How can I spot a phishing scam?

Below are some useful tips for how to spot a fake email. This isn’t always easy. Look out for things such as:

	Poor spelling/grammar Scammers often make simple spelling or grammar mistakes, even mixing up first names/surnames.
	Non-personal address The scammer probably doesn’t know you by name, so they might address you as ‘Dear Sir/Madam’.
	Email address Always check email addresses for a spelling mistake. If you get an unexpected email from a company or person you know, double check with them before sharing any information or making any payments.
	The URL/web address of any links Check that it isn’t unusually long and doesn’t include special characters or letters substituted by numbers. If in doubt, go directly to the company website through your browser.
	Requests to act fast Scammers will often urge you to take action immediately; ‘otherwise your account will be suspended’ or something similar. This can be subtle – like an overdue bill or expired account information.
	Unexpected email Try to think if there’s a good reason for this business contacting you. Or are they, for example, telling you that you’ve won a prize for a competition you didn’t enter?