Criminals are often articulate and knowledgeable, using sophisticated techniques to make their scams look like genuine investments. Even the most tech-savvy of people can be caught out by fraudsters.
The people they target tend to be experienced investors, those over 65, with savings over £10,000. In fact, research by Age UK suggests the average age of fraud victims is 75, with recent figures putting the average loss at £32,000. But it can happen to anyone.
As fraudsters become more sophisticated, it’s often easy to be drawn in by bogus financial promotions, particularly when they come via email or online advertising.
Here are five useful tips to help you stay safe online this year:
1. Check the website is secure
If you are logging in, making a payment, or entering any personal or sensitive details, make sure you check that the website address begins with ‘https’.
An ‘SSL certificate’ helps to create a safe, encrypted connection between your device and the website being accessed, information is exposed and could easily become accessible to cybercriminals.