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Cyber crime - crime prevention advice |
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Good afternoon,
Several million cases of fraud and of computer misuse are reported to the police every year. It's staggering, but even more staggering is that so many of those crimes could have been prevented by making a few small changes in online behaviour. To avoid becoming a victim of online crime you don’t need to be a computer expert. Developing a few good online habits drastically reduces your chances of becoming a victim of cyber crime, makes you less vulnerable and lets you use the web safely. Online fraud, also known as cyber crime, covers all crimes that: take place online are committed using computers, or are assisted by online technology How to reduce your chances of becoming a victimtry using three unrelated words passwords, eg fishbooktable; and think of three different words for each account, so if one is compromised the others are safe never give personal or sensitive details out online or over email make sure all devices have up-to-date anti-virus software and a firewall installed keep software and apps regularly updated only download from legal, trusted websites only open emails and attachments from known and trusted sources only ever use websites that start with https://, however make sure that you're on the correct site by sense-checking the full website address avoid using public WiFi hotspots that are not secure, use your 3/4G data. If you have no choice but to use Public WiFi, then only use it with a Virtual Private Network enabled on your device regularly back up your data control your social media accounts – regularly check your privacy settings and how your data is being used and shared be cautious of internet chats and online dating – there’s no guarantee you’re speaking to who you think be extremely cautious if you’re asked for money Email and text scamsBe careful when opening emails and texts, especially if you don't know the sender. If an email or text is unexpected or seems unusual, even if it’s from someone you know, ignore it and contact the sender directly to check if they sent it. Your bank, the police and reputable companies will never ask for sensitive or financial details via email, phone or text. To protect yourself from scams, known as 'phishing': don’t open attachments or click on links in emails or texts from senders you don’t know never give out personal information, financial details or passwords in response to an email, when you receive an unexpected phone call or in response to a text message set up spam filters on all of your accounts don’t respond to emails or texts from unknown sources always go to a website directly, by typing out the address yourself, when logging into an account How to spot a fake websiteIf an online offer looks too good to be true, it probably is. To help spot a fake site: sense check the domain name are the prices too good to be true? never pay by bank transfer – legitimate sites will accept payment via usual methods, such as bank card and PayPal read the terms and conditions, and policies, to check they're clear and fair Tips for parents and guardiansThe internet lets children connect with friends and learn new things. But there are also dangers to going online, and children can be particularly vulnerable. Talking to your child is one of the best ways to keep them safe online. By understanding the risks and keeping yourself up-to-date on the latest technology, websites and social networks you can help your child enjoy the internet safely and securely. To help protect your children online: keep computers and games consoles in family rooms where you can monitor activity install parental control software or activate parental controls through your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to prevent access to inappropriate content ‘friend’ or ‘follow’ your child on social networks, so you can see how they're using them check age restrictions for websites or social networks to make sure your children are allowed to join advise your child not to post personal information or any images they wouldn’t want everyone to see check their social media accounts’ privacy settings, so their posts are only seen by friends and their location isn’t tracked avoid using webcams unless talking to close friends or family, and consider covering it when not in use monitor how your children use the internet and watch for any secretive behavior encourage your child to be open about what they do online and who they’re talking to insist you go with them if they wish to meet online friends ensure the games your children play online are age appropriate
Report cyber crime
If you are currently being subjected to a live and ongoing cyber-attack then please contact us on 101. If you suspect you’ve been scammed, defrauded or experienced cyber crime, the Action Fraud team can also provide the help, support and advice you need. Call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (textphone 0300 123 2050).
Kind regards, Colindale SNT | ||
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