Each day this week, in the build up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we’ll be offering you tips and advice to stay as safe as possible when shopping online.

Look Out For Email Scams

• A warning that your account will be closed unless you send in essential information; that could be a scam.
• A coupon just for you via email; that’s probably a scam.
• A chance to be a mystery shopper if you provide bank info, also a scam.
• That super cute wallpaper with the holiday theme – scam.
• That package notice that tells you to click here (but doesn’t quite look like Royal Mail) – scam.

Criminals will try any means necessary to get you to give away your personal details. Be particularly wary of unsolicited email offers in the run up to Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas – when people are most in hunt of a bargain!

The key here is to scrutinise any offer, alert, or warning. Deals that look too good to be true, usually are.

Just last week, scammers pretending to be Amazon claimed that shopping orders could not be shipped without account details being updated!

Anything that asks for personal information or credit cards by email, is very likely criminal. Check the email address of the sender and mouse over any links (but don’t click) to see where they really take you.

And pop-up windows NOT from your anti-virus provider that warn you that your PC is infected should be closed along with the site that launched them.

Top Tips
– Make sure the sender’s address matches their details
– Look for subject lines that overuse $ymbol$
– Google any name or company you find suspicious
– Check for overused CAPITALISATION and punctuation!!!!
– Keep an eye out for bad grammar and typoes typos
– Remember that unexpected rewards are often too good to be true
– Be suspicious of any email that asks for personal info
– Know that real companies use their own email, not Gmail or Hotmail

Don’t Forget
Complete the new 2016 Cyber Crime survey, so we can see the full scope of Cyber Crime in Warwickshire, and across West Mercia and the West Midlands – https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RegionalCyber16

For more information about our work, please visit www.safeinwarwickshire.com/cybercrime

Cyber Aware is a cross-government campaign, funded by the National Cyber Security Programme. They aim to measurably and significantly improve the online safety behaviour and confidence of consumers and small businesses (SMEs).

Get Safe Online is the UK’s leading source of factual and easy-to-understand information on online safety. Their website offers advice on how you can protect yourself, your computers and devices, and your business against the likes of fraud, identity theft, viruses and other potential online problems.

ThinkUKnow is a national website which offers tailored advice to young people about online safety concerns. There is also a section on there if you are a parent/carer or a teacher who is concerned about a young person’s safety online.