The internet is a huge part of all of our lives, but you need to make sure you’re staying safe and legal when online.
Opportunistic scammers can use very sophisticated techniques to trick people out of their money or personal details. Don’t get caught out.
There are lots of misconceptions about what you can and can’t do online, as well as who might be impacted by illegal activity.
Here are 13 things to keep in mind to stay safe and legal online…
- Never give your bank card PIN out over the phone - your bank will never ask for this information.
- Fraudsters can ‘spoof’ phone numbers, meaning the person calling may not be who you think they are. If something seems suspicious, end the call.
- Never allow someone you know to transfer money into your account - you may be helping criminals to launder money or aid other crimes.
- Avoid using public wi-fi to access online banking or other secure information, particularly if your device doesn’t have a security system.
- Most charity collections are genuine, but if you’re unsure then check that the charity is registered before donating.
- Don’t download films and TV shows illegally. It can help to fund activities of serious organised crime groups and can have an adverse impact on the creative industries and the UK economy.
- Adding incorrect details on your insurance policies or making false or inflated claims is fraud and is taken seriously by both insurers and the police, and you could be prosecuted.
- Don’t transfer money to someone you don’t know, as often people are using your good will to scam you out of your money. Only make transfers to someone you know personally.
- Anti-virus software can protect against most viruses, but can still be bypassed by more sophisticated ones, so be careful of pop ups or suspicious requests for personal information.
- Be cautious of those you meet online, even through online dating sites that have vetting processes. Never send money or give credit card or account details to anyone you don’t know and trust.
- Personal details can be used to guess passwords, habits and vulnerabilities, so make sure your privacy settings on social media don’t give out more information that you realise.
- Make sure your passwords are secure, and use a different one for every online account you have. We recommend using three random words to make a strong password.
- Always research new businesses before parting with money - a website doesn’t always indicate that it’s legitimate.