Don’t Click On DODGY LINKS!
Scammers use email and text links to cheat us out of money, so here’s how to keep yours safe
You’re a careful driver. Hand on heart, there may be rare occasions when you’re in a hurry, and put your foot down. But for the most part you stick to the rules of the road.
So when you get an email containing a speeding fine, your first thought is, ‘ Whaaat? I don’t remember speeding anywhere.’
But the email is convincing. It details your car’s registration number, the location, time, and the excess speed you reached when you were caught. It’s only just over the limit. But even so, it means a £100 fine, and three points on your licence. Sickening.
Pay up
There’s a link on the email to pay or contest the fine.
Anxious, you click on it, and it takes you straight to an official-looking website.
There’s an option to halve the fine to £50 if you pay in the next 48 hours. If you contest the fine successfully you’ll get a refund – but even if you choose that option you still have to pay the fine upfront.
It’s a huge chunk of money wasted, but at least if you pay now it’s not the full fine of £100. So you enter your card details and authorise the £50 payment.
You’re still fuming, but relieved to have got it sorted.
However, you haven’t paid a fine – the link was a scam, and you’ve unwittingly handed a fraudster the financial details they need to go on a shopping spree.
Corrupt link
Another parking fine fraud has also hit a number of victims. When they clicked through to a website from an email link, they unknowingly downloaded malware, which gave thieves access to their financial details.
With scams now becoming increasingly convincing and sophisticated, it’s no wonder that someone becomes a victim of financial fraud every 15 seconds in the UK.* That’s why the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign is helping us all to recognise scams, and keep our money safe from unscrupulous fraudsters.
The advice before you commit yourself to any online transaction is to always stop, think and take five to remind yourself of this simple phrase: My money? My info? I don’t think so!
Always be wary of links in emails or texts, and never click on a link unless you’re 100% sure it’s genuine.
‘My money? My info? I don’t think so!’