This year has seen a marked increase in online shopping which has given fraudsters many more opportunities to scam you.
Firstly, we wanted to draw your attention to ‘missed delivery’ scam emails (it could also be a text message) purporting to be from a delivery company that claims you have missed a delivery and need to pay a small fee to reschedule it.
So far, we have seen numerous versions, predominantly DPD and Royal Mail, but bear in mind it could claim to be any other well known delivery service.
Generally, missed deliveries will result in an actual card through your letterbox and will never ask you to make a payment online.
Please don’t click on links in unsolicited emails! Delete them immediately. If you are unsure as to the validity of any message received via email, never open it, check online for the companies’ legitimate contact details then either phone or email them to confirm the validity of the original message.
More great advice here from DPD
If you prefer not to click on a weblink, simply do an internet search for “DPD phishing” to reach this information.
Remember, if you do receive suspicious emails like this, either delete them immediately or if you feel confident enough, please forward them to;
report@phishing.gov.uk
Suspicious text messages should be sent to 7726 (spells SPAM on your mobile keypad)
WHATSAPP Scam
The second scam we need to warn of is a convincing scam that could let cybercriminals access your messages and your contacts resulting in you losing access to your account.
If you receive a WhatsApp message with a verification code that you did not request, delete the message and DO NOT FORWARD OR DISCLOSE to ANYONE
The scam works by you receiving a message allegedly from someone you know or trust, most likely messaging from a different number to their usual one, advising they are trying to reset their account and have inadvertently entered your number by mistake, and can you forward the code to the number.
Once they have your code they are able to access your account to launch attacks on other people, as well as having access all your WhatsApp messages. Messages sent will appear to your contacts to come from you!
NEVER DISCLOSE OR SHARE A VERIFICATION CODE SENT TO YOU BY WHATSAPP (or indeed any platform, no matter how convincing the request)
IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY, CHANGE THE SETTINGS ON YOUR WHATSAPP ACCOUNT TO TURN ON TWO STEP VERFICATION (Open the app, click on the three dots, settings, account, two step verification – it will require you to create a six digit PIN)
For more information visit
If you do not wish to click on the link, search on a browser for “WhatsApp two step verification”
PLEASE DO SHARE TO MAKE OTHERS AWARE
