Safe Online Advice-Re Coronavirus

As most of us are now well deep into lockdown the scams are still popping up. You know my thoughts on these scammers. But anyway, they are about as you will see from the link I’ve added at the bottom of this article if you weren’t aware already. Luckily though we do seem to be able to flag these scams early enough. Hopefully, these warning messages are taken on board and passed on wherever we can. This latest article is again from Cheshire Police and focuses on safe online advice.

Oh and by the way, thanks for the umpteenth time to John, from Blacon, for providing us with this latest warning message. Anyway, get safe online. Carry on reading for more information.

Safe Online Advice

Cheshire Police Alert ~ Get Safe Online Advice Re Coronavirus

You, Coronavirus and staying safe online.

We all have enough to be concerned about from the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.

That’s why our online experts have put together some top tips about how to protect yourself, your loved ones, finances and devices from the scams that are currently circulating.

As well as advice about keeping yourself and your organisation protected whilst working from home.

To see more about online safety during this uncertain time visit www.getsafeonline.org/coronavirus or take a look at our new online leaflet attached.

Stay well and stay safe online.

The Get Safe Online Team Attachments GSO_COVID-19_Leaflet.pdf – 697.8 KB

Message Sent By Get Safe Online Admin (Get Safe Online, Content Director, National)

There you go, short and sweet but a powerful message all the same.

Here’s the link to a useful and important get safe online advice website :

Get Safe Online Advice

“The UK’s leading awareness resource helping protect people, finances, devices and businesses from fraud, abuse and other issues encountered online.”

GETSAFEONLINE.ORG

Safe Online Advice – Take Care

It goes without saying that we should all be extra vigilant at this moment. And spread the word where we can. We are all so much more vulnerable, so any help that can be provided is so vital.

Take things like shopping online. Only buy from safe and secure platforms. This applies at all times, not just during this crisis.

May I also throw in my tuppence as well. Take extra care with any text, email, phone calls or WhatsApp messages you may be receiving. Again, not only during these extraordinary times, but across the board as well.

I saw in a local forum someone posted a screenshot of an email they received telling them their TV licence had expired, or about to expire. Shock upon shock the message went on to announce that all was not lost. The email recipient could still renew their licence……guess how? Yes, by clicking the links they had provided.

A blatant scam. Credit to the poster in the forum who brought it to people’s attention. A bit of a clue as to how to spot this was clearly a scam as that the message began with “Dear Customer”

That’s normally a giveaway that it’s a scam. The short message is, “if in doubt, stay out”

If unsure, ask around. Phone the service provider to check if it’s real. Check online. Go into local forums etc as someone may have already posted a warning message.

Bogus Phone Calls

Although not necessarily safe online advice, be careful about bogus phone calls. But how do you know if it is a bogus phone call. The simple answer is, we can’t necessarily. My own view on it is that if I see a call coming in from a number I don’t recognise, or “Private Number” then I ignore it.

If it’s important then the caller will leave a message. You can even stress that in your own voicemail message. You can say something like, “your call is important to me so do please a message and I will get back to you”

Obviously, if it is legitimate, they will leave a message more often than not. If they don’t then it wasn’t important was it.

Also, for the numbers I don’t recognise, I make a note of them and put them in the search field in Google. Very often you will see that the number has been reported on one of the many scam call message boards or forums.

Here’s one to make a note of. I got a call from this number a few days ago – 0161-974-6967. And here’s the message on Google about this number HERE. It’s a scam. The checking is process is easy enough. If you have access to the internet that is. But the general advice of, if you don’t recognise the number, ignore and let your voicemail pick up the message from your tailor made voicemail prompt.

As I say, not specifically a safe online advice addition, but important nevertheless.

Stating the obvious, stay safe folks.

Chester Crimewatch

To see all my safety messages, most of which have been provided by the ever vigilant, John from Blacon, have a look HERE.

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

As well as this latest safe online advice post, you can see all of my other blog posts on a variety of topics by heading on over to HERE.

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