We want to help keep you and your information safe online so here's a quick guide to help you spot a fake email/ phishing scam online.
Poor Spelling & Grammar
Scammers often make simple spelling or grammar mistakes, even mixing up first names/surnames. Keep an eye out for this!
Generic Greeting
The scammer probably doesn’t know you by name, so they might address you as ‘Dear Sir/Madam’, 'To The Account Holder' etc.
Email Address
Always check the received email addresses for a spelling mistake. If you get an unexpected email from a company or person you know, double check with them before sharing any information or making any payments.
The URL/Web Address of Links
If there is a link in the email, check that the link isn’t unusually long and doesn’t include special characters like ($*@!#) or l3tt3rs substituted by numbers.
If in doubt, go directly to the company website through your browser and DON'T FOLLOW THE LINK PROVIDED!
Requests to "Act Fast"
Scammers will often urge you to take action IMMEDIATELY; ‘otherwise your account will be suspended’ or something similar.
This can be subtle – like an overdue bill or expired account information. Don't panic and take your time to investigate.
Unexpected Email
Try to think if there’s a good reason for this business contacting you. Or are they, for example, telling you that you’ve won a prize for a competition you didn’t enter?
There are many ways people can try to scam you online so be aware and always double check the source if you're not sure.
Here are more tips from Vodafone regarding scams and general tips for staying secure online: https://n.vodafone.ie/protecting-you.html