How to protect yourself from online fraud

We live in a world where many of us are constantly online. Whether you’re doing online banking or just checking emails, a lot of our tasks are now carried out on our laptops or mobile phones, which means you could be at an increased risk of fraud.  

In 2023/24, almost 1.26 million fraud and cybercrime (e.g. hacking, phishing) were recorded in England and Wales, but how do you stop becoming one of these victims? Our guide covers everything you need to know and do to protect yourself from online scams.

EASY AS HACK

If you’ve lost money or been hacked as a result of a phishing message, or have come close to it, report it to Action Fraud or call 0300 123 2040.

At a glance

What is online fraud?

According to the Fraud Act 2006, fraud is a crime that involves:

1. Making a false or misleading representation
2. Failing to disclose or deliberately concealing information
3. Abusing a position of trust to safeguard another’s financial interests

Online fraud, also known as cybercrime, is a type of fraud that takes place online or with the help of technology.

What are the different types of online fraud?

There are several types of fraud that can be carried out online. Here are some of them.

Common types of online fraud

• e-commerce, online, payment and phone fraud – fraudsters steal credit card details and use them to target online retailers
• Internet, email and mobile phone fraud – for example, scams aimed at tricking you into sharing your personal detail
• Holiday and ticketing fraud – fraudsters take money from you via a fake ticketing site or for accommodation/hotels that they’ve invented
• Identity theft – using a person’s stolen details to commit crime.

These types of online fraud can be carried out in different ways, which involve:

Missed call scams

Fraudsters call your number briefly so that you get a missed call. The number they use will be premium rate one, so if you call back, you’ll be charged more and they will get the fees.

Spoof calls

Fraudsters call you pretending to be from your bank or insurer and asking for your personal or financial details. The call may appear to come from a legitimate number, but the scammer has disguised their number.

Phishing

You get a text or an email that encourages you to click a link. It may look real at first glance but isn’t. The aim is often to make you visit a website which puts a virus onto your computer enabling criminals to steal bank details or other personal information.

Fake websites

Fraudsters impersonate legitimate companies by creating fake websites that look like the real thing. These scams can be convincing, with similar web addresses and branding.

Warning signs to look out for

To avoid becoming a victim of online fraud, you need to know what the warning signs are. You should be extremely cautious of anyone who:

• Claims to be from the government, a bank, a business, or a family member, and asks you to pay money
• Or move money into a ‘safe account’
• Asks you to pay money or tax upfront to receive a prize or a gift
• Asks you to wire them or send them money
• Asks for access to your ATM cards, bank accounts, credit cards, cryptocurrency wallet keys or access codes, or investment accounts
• Creates a sense of urgency or emergency and pressures you to act immediately
  
  

What precautions can I take against fraud?

No one wants to be looking over their shoulder all the time, so to ease your mind, there are steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of online fraud.

1. Protect your information – don’t write down or store your passwords anywhere that’s easily accessible for someone else. Make sure your passwords are strong and protected via multi-factor authentication
2. Secure your devices – keep your software and security updated
3. Verify communication – a text or email might look real at first glance, but contact the company, bank or individual directly to confirm it is actually them
4. Look out for mistakes – keep an eye out for wrong logos, missing signatures, spelling mistakes or strange email addresses
5. Don’t click on links – don’t open links in emails unless you’re certain the sender is real
6. Be aware of the official process – find out what your bank’s policy is for customer contact and information sharing. The more you know, the more easily you’ll be able to spot a fraudster.

What do I do if I’m the victim of fraud?

The first step you should take is reporting it. If you’ve lost money or been hacked as a result of a phishing message, or have come close to it, you should report it to Action Fraud or call 0300 123 2040.

If you’ve received scam messages or emails, you can report it to the National Cyber Security Centre. It has the power to investigate and remove scam websites.

Once you’ve reported the online fraud, you should immediately contact your bank or other financial institutions to block your accounts and credit cards. Then change your passwords for all your accounts and keep an eye out for unusual transactions.

If you’re ever unsure whether you’re speaking to Ageas or someone acting on behalf of Ageas, you should end the call immediately. Then contact us on the Claims number in your policy booklet.

Remember, Ageas will never:

• ask you to share data, images or ID via WhatsApp
• tell you there is a fund set aside to pay your injury claim
• try to persuade you to submit a personal injury claim
• call you to try and find out what happened in the accident (if you’ve claimed)
• tell you to exaggerate your injuries to increase the amount of compensation you receive
• tell you that your personal injury claim will be settled within two or three days without a medical examination.
  

   

How we can help you

We're here to support you as best we can.

If you’re worried you've been a victim of fraud, help is available. Please visit our fraud support page, or chat to us.