CYBER ATTACKS ON THE RISE: How to protect yourself online

According to data from security experts, there was a staggering 667% increase in malicious phishing emails at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This spike in fraudulent activity was partially due to scammers taking advantage of home working – which left many increasingly vulnerable, according to security experts Barracuda Network. What’s more, multiple lockdowns over the last year meant consumers were shopping online more than ever before, with online sales up 46% in 2020.

Despite the fact that lockdown restrictions have eased in the UK, cyber crime is still a massive issue. In the second quarter of 2021, there were 81,018 cases of fraud and cyber crime, resulting in a reported £382.3 million lost to criminals.

James Andrews, senior personal finance editor at money.co.uk, said: “Home working and lockdown shopping presented easy targets for fraudsters as more people moved into areas they were unfamiliar with.

“Now we’re pretty much out of lockdown, you’d expect the figures to drop slightly. That they haven’t shows just how fast fraudsters adapt – creating ever more sophisticated scam websites and phishing emails.

“The first thing to look at when you’re trying to work out if a website is real is the URL. If a hacker is trying to copy an online store in an effort to steal your cash, the URL will often end in ‘.net’ or ‘.org’. For authentic online stores, ‘.com’ or ‘.co.uk’ are much more common.

“If the brand is unfamiliar to you – Google it. If you find interviews with the founders or stories about them on news sites, Trustpilot reviews, a Wikipedia entry about it or other third party reviews or comments then the chances of it being legitimate are far higher.

“As well as the more technical differences, make sure to also look at the general quality of the site. If there are any misleading product descriptions, poor quality photos, or grammatical errors, it’s a strong indication that the page you’re looking at isn’t legitimate.

“When it comes to payment, most legitimate online retailers should allow you to pay by debit or credit card, or via Paypal. If you’re asked to pay by bank transfer, avoid the site at all costs – this is a massive red flag, likewise if you’re asked to pay into a bitcoin or other cryptocurrency wallet, it’s almost certainly a scam.

“If at all possible, make online purchases using a credit card. This way, you’re protected under Section 75 of the Consumer credit act on transactions between £100-£30,000, meaning you can speak to your credit card company to get your money back in the event of a scam.