Tips to prevent you becoming a victim of fraud.

Incidents of fraud that involve electronic communication continue to rise, in 2024 there was a 13% rise in fraud incidents being reported to 421,000 incidents, and with only around 1 in 7 frauds being reported, the actual number is expected to be much higher.

Across England and Wales, fraud accounts for 40% of all reported crime, with an estimate that 67% of reported fraud is cyber-enabled.

Whilst I cannot go into every type of fraud in this message, I will cover fraudulent emails and fraudulent text messages, as these methods are the easiest way for fraudsters to make contact.

Emails and text messages that are sent to fraudulently obtain sensitive information such as personal information, usernames, passwords, bank details and credit card information are called phishing messages – so what are these.Phishing messages appear to come from legitimate sources like banks, social media platforms, or online retailers, but they are actually crafted by attackers.These messages often contain links to fake websites that mimic legitimate login pages or download malware onto the user’s device.Phishing attacks rely on the victim’s trust in the sender to convince them to take action, like clicking on a link or providing information.Phishing attacks can be broad (sending out mass emails hoping to catch some victims) or targeted (specifically targeting individuals or organizations).Successfully executed phishing attacks can lead to identity theft, financial losses, and the compromise of sensitive data.

These types of messages do normally have signs that they are not from person or company they claim to be from.A generic greeting such as ‘dear customer’ rather than your name.They frequently contain grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Double-check the sender’s email address. Look for inconsistencies, misspellings, or the use of free email providers rather than the sender’s official domain.They often are written to create a sense of urgency or panic, such as claims of money being owed or threatening account suspension, which is something legitimate organisations rarely do via a message.The Logo’s or branding may have differences from the legitimate organisation.

What should you do if you think you have received a phishing email or text.Do not click on any of the links in the messages.Send any suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.ukForward any suspicious text messages to 7726 (spells SPAM on your keypad)If you have pressed any links and believe you may have passed on financial information, contact your bank immediately.Report any incidents of fraud to Action Fraud or call 0300 123 2040

Further information, including warnings about current frauds can also be found on the Action Fraud website

Feel free to share this message, or post on social media. Further crime prevention advice is available on the Secured by Design website.