Fraud Awareness – Stay Fraud Safe

Fraud Awareness – Stay Fraud Safe

As fraudsters spot new opportunities to access your money, information and software during the coronavirus pandemic, here’s how we can help you stay safe.

Unfortunately, fraudsters are using people’s sense of uncertainty and fear during the coronavirus pandemic to take advantage of vulnerable people and businesses.

Here are a few simple steps you can take to keep your details, money and software safe from fraud:

Be extra vigilant if you receive emails, texts, calls or letters claiming to be from, or containing links to, these organisations:
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
Global Health Centre
Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità (OMS)
Shipping company customer service teams
Updates from presidents of corporations
World Health Organisation (WHO)
You should also take care if you get any emails that mention coronavirus, especially if they also reference:
A link for an app that tracks the virus using an interactive map
Business working conditions or policies
Campaigns raising money for research into cures, or funds for victims
Information about hospitals in affected areas
Mortgage repayment holidays or rent relief
Parcel shipping cancellations
Refunds from airlines or entertainment bookings
Money transfer requests for victims trapped abroad
Services claiming they can diagnose coronavirus
Tax refunds from gov.uk
Websites where you can buy coronavirus masks, test kits, sanitiser gels, or protective equipment

To help protect yourself:

Reject offers that come out of the blue
Beware of adverts on social media channels and paid for/sponsored adverts online
Check who you are dealing with; are they regulated and reputable
Do not click links or open emails from senders you don't already know
Avoid being rushed or pressured into making a decision
If you are contacted unexpectedly by someone saying they are from your product provider, call back on a number already known to you for that provider
If you are contacted by someone purporting to be from the fraud team at your bank, again be very cautious and check they are who they say they are
Do not give out personal details (bank details, address, existing insurance/ pensions/ investment details)

If you get an email like the one we’ve described above, don’t:

Click on any links
Download or open any attachments
Enable macros in any attachments
Enter or provide your personal information, bank details, usernames or passwords
Forward it to colleagues
Reply to it

If you get a message that looks relevant to something you’ve bought or a service you use, it’s still best not to reply, but contact the company claiming to have sent it via a different method you’re confident is secure – like a phone number or email address shown on its official website.

Remember – we’ll never ask for your account information or passwords through unsolicited calls, texts, emails or social media.
If you get an email or text that claims to be from us but looks suspicious, please forward it, along with any attachments if possible, to info@conisterbank.co.im