try to convince users to click on links to dodgy or attachments, Phishing attacks or to give sensitive information away (such as bank details). This advice includes tips about how to spot the most obvious signs of phishing, and what to do if you think you've Dealing with suspicious emails clicked a bad link. For more information, please visit www.ncsc.gov.uk/phishing .

Make yourself a Tell tale signs harder target of phishing ***** Information from your or Spotting a phishing is accounts leaves a becoming increasingly difficult, and 'digital footprint' that can be even the most careful user can be exploited by criminals. You can make yourself tricked. Here are some tell tale signs less likely to be phished by doing the following: that could indicate a phishing attempt. Criminals use publicly available ? Is the email addressed to you by information about you to make their name, or does it refer to 'valued phishing emails appear convincing. customer', or 'friend' or 'colleague'? Review your privacy settings, and think This can be a sign that the sender about what you post. does not actually know you, and that it What is phishing? Be aware what your friends, family and is part of a phishing scam. colleagues say about you online, as Others will try and create official- Phishing is when criminals attempt to this can also reveal information that can be used to target you. looking emails by including logos and trick people into doing 'the wrong thing', graphics. Is the design (and quality) such as clicking a link to a dodgy website. If you have received an email which . what you'd expect? Phishing can be conducted via a text you’re not quite sure about, forward it to message, social media, or by phone, but the NCSC's suspicious Email Reporting Does the email contain a veiled the term 'phishing' is mainly used to Service (SERS): [email protected] that asks you to act urgently? Be describe attacks that arrive by email. suspicious of words like 'send these . details within 24 hours' or 'you have Criminals send phishing emails to been a victim of crime, click here millions of people, asking for What to do if you've immediately'. sensitive information (like bank details), already clicked ? or containing links to bad websites. Some Look at the sender's name and email phishing emails may contain viruses The most important thing to do is address. Does it sound legitimate, or is it disguised as harmless attachments, not to panic. There are number of trying to mimic someone you know? which are activated when opened. practical steps you can take: c Your bank (or any other official source) + Open your antivirus (AV) software, and run should never ask you to supply a full scan. Follow any instructions given. personal information in an email. If you need to check, call them directly. If you've been tricked into providing your , you should change your If it sounds too good to be true, it on all your other accounts. probably is. It's most unlikely that If you have lost money, you need to report it someone will offer you designer trainers as a crime to Action . You can do this by for £10, or codes to access films for free. visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk. © Crown Copyright 2020 www.ncsc.gov.uk @NCSC National Cyber Security Centre @cyberhq