How to spot a scam or fraudulant message.

Scroll down to learn what to look out for.

Spam email is a problem everyone.

Everyone gets junk email, and it can take a number of forms:
  • Click here for cheap Viagra - Wants you to buy something from a website.
  • Your account has been locked, click here to unlock it
  • - Trying to trick you into providing your email address and password.
  • We've been monitoring you, pay us or we'll send things to your friends and family - Blackmail you into sending money (often BitCoin). They don't actually have the information they claim they have.

Messages either sent directly to you, or shared via a group.

You may receieve direct messages via SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal or any other messaging application. These will often impersonate other companies:
  • Your DHL parcel is ready, click here to arrange delivery. - Trick you into providing personal information.
  • You have come second place in the Tesco prize draw - Trick you into providing information and possibly steal your Tesco username and password.

Group messages are often used to spread fraudulant messages. You might receive these in Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal or any other group messaging applications .

People you may or may not know may send you messages in a group chat:
  • Send this offer to 10 of your friends to get £50. - Other people may be tricked into forwarding on a spam message.
  • I've just signed up to X and I love it. - People can mistakenly allow an application on their phone to send messages on their behalf.

Sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc all allow public and private posts which can be used to share spam.

You may see posts shared by people you may or may not know. These messages often encourage you to share them with your friends and may lead you to websites outside the social media platform. Examples include things such as:
  • 10 amazing things your doctor doesn't want you to know - dramatic claims designed to make you click on them.
  • This is the best game I've ever played! - games often encourage and reward people for creating posts like this.
Watch video

What should you do.

Simple: Don’t do anything. Don’t click on it, don’t forward it to anyone. Ignore the junk.

Unsubscribe

Trying to unsubscribe is difficult. If you have received a legitimate marketing email (for example from your supermarket) and you want to unsubscribe then this will work fine. However clicking on unsubscribe links in spam emails simply confirms your email address is valid, and they'll send you even more.

Rule: If the message is from a legitimate company then unsubscribe, if it isn't, then just ignore it.

Don’t click links

Avoid clicking on links in emails and other messages. Navigate to the companies website yourself.

Never share details

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