It’s not just tax rebate scams, there are so many online threats to your security that we all need to take it seriously. Get Safe Online collates safety information on a range of personal and business situations. It’s a reliable place to start if you’re dealing with any online security issues.
What is Get Safe Online?
Get Safe Online describes itself as “the UK’s leading source of unbiased, factual and easy-to-understand information on online safety.” It’s a partnership between public and private sector organisations and businesses, which includes The City of London Police and two high street banks.
Get Safe Online is a hub of information about all things online:
- Safeguarding children online
- Using social media
- Personal information, fake news and passwords
- Computer protection, including malware and firewalls
- Mobile devices
- Online shopping and banking
The business section covers hardware, software, online security, and the procedures and policies that govern these areas.
The Glossary section of their website is particularly useful to understand the technical terms that become everyday language because of their extensive use during online scams. Get Safe Online’s blog brings UK and international stories about online issues. They also runs community events and the national Get Safe Online Week.
Given the breadth of information covered, this is an excellent resource for any kind of online scam or security problem you might face.
How bad is the UK’s online scams situation?
Just searching ‘online scams UK’ in the news reveals a list of recent headlines that includes romance scams, travel cons, and impersonations of banks, investment companies and HMRC.
Businesses, institutions and other consumer protecting organisations like Which? constantly publish warnings about online security. HMRC are particularly on the ball when it comes to reporting on new scams on taxpayers and regularly share their data. For example, they’ve recently said that the number of frauds involving people posing as HMRC has gone up by 138% in a year.
It’s estimated that £2billion is lost to online fraud every year in Britain. It’s not just the financial cost, is it?
People are often left angry, embarrassed and ashamed by the fact that they fell victim to this type of crime. And that’s not a fair assessment of themselves. Because these are professional criminals. They’re good at what they do and they’re constantly evolving. Lots of the fake companies buy real advertising space and run adverts alongside legitimate businesses. Promoting adverts lends another layer of plausibility to their scam and is often the first click of an unsuspecting victim.
They bring out seasonal scams that are appropriate at particular times of the year. For example, the scams that promise tax rebates or suggest you owe HMRC immediately in January are now postponed until the end of this month because of the extended deadline.
But it’s not just our tax department that’s being impersonated. Which?’s recent blog describes six new types of travel scam.
These prey on a sharpened desire to get away this year, confusion about Brexit and COVID-19 rules and ordinary people’s need to get refunds from holidays that were cancelled due to COVID.
These are carefully created, targeted and sophisticated frauds. And, for the criminals, it’s a numbers game. They produce and promote a huge number of online scams, with the belief that a percentage of them will give them a good yield of your money.
What’s the government doing about online fraud?
The Treasury Committee has highlighted the impact of fraud and scammers in its recent report on Economic Crime. Chair of the Treasury Committee, Rt. Hon. Mel Stride MP, said:
“For too long, pernicious scammers have acted with impunity, ripping off innocent consumers with fraudulent online adverts, impersonation scams and dodgy crypto investments.
“Unfortunately, fraud has soared during the pandemic, and as MPs we’ve heard heart-breaking stories of individuals who have fallen victim to these criminals and lost large sums of money.
“While the Government have made some progress in this area, we’re today calling on them to push harder and act faster on the growing fraud epidemic. Some of our recommendations, such as legislating against online scam adverts, can be implemented quickly. Others, including crypto regulation and Companies House reform, will require a longer term approach. Taken together, our proposals give the UK a fighting chance to get back on the front foot and stop these scammers in their tracks.”
It’s hoped that the government will prioritise tackling the issues raised in this important report.
What you can do about online fraud
The good news is that the power really is at your fingertips. We strongly advocate ‘think before you click’. No one on the other side of a screen or phone call can make you do anything. You can keep yourself safe. Just apply this basic, common sense approach:
- Even if it looks legitimate, don’t give any personal or financial details to any cold call, message or email. Check the source by calling HMRC, the bank, charity, or company that seems to be getting in touch.
- If you’re being threatened, hang up. This isn’t how HMRC do business. And it’s not how most other real organisations do business either. Phone a real number for the company and find out if you actually owe anything at all.
- If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. This applies to unexpected competition win, getting holiday reimbursements and tax rebates alike.
Treat all communications with a suspicious attitude and you’ll be fine. Don’t assume it’s real because there’s a logo. Question everything. You must only give your precious details if you’re completely convinced the organisations or business is real.
The key to foiling scammers is to slow down. Don’t automatically open the document or download the attachment. Stop. Think before you click. And you’ll be fine. Remember, these criminals don’t just email. They might call, message or get in touch via any of your social media accounts. Bring your sceptical attitude to all of them.
And if you receive any suspicious communications report them to Action Fraud – even if you spotted them before you lost any money. Your information helps to create a full national picture and take down fraudulent websites and phone numbers.
