Guiding against scam calls during the holiday season - professional guidance provided
Preventing Holiday Phone Scams: Staying Safe During the Festive Season
As the bustling holiday season unfolds, Brits are eager to purchase gifts for their loved ones while reflecting on the year's events. Regrettably, this affluent time also serves as a fertile ground for fraudsters, who resort to deceptive tactics in pursuit of ill-gotten gains.
According to Hiya's Q4 2023 Global Call Threat Report, Amazon scams dominated phone scams during the holiday season in the UK. With online shopping, travel, and digital activity peaking, it is of paramount importance for consumers to maintain a heightened vigilance and safeguard themselves from these evolving threats.
Protective Measures Provided by UK Telecoms
To aid consumers in their quest for security, numerous telecom service providers in the UK offer scam prevention services. These AI-driven tools impede fraudulent calls and alert users to potential scams in real-time, allowing them to make well-informed decisions. Some of the prominent services include:
- BT's Enhanced Call Protect
- EE's Scam Guard
- O2's Call Defence
- Virgin Media's Adaptive AI Fraud Protection
If unsure of the availability of these services, consumers are advised to contact their providers for clarification. Alternatively, applications such as Caller ID & Block offer similar scam protection features.
Remaining Vigilant: Practical Tips for Scam Safety
Although technology has been fortified to shield consumers from scams, caution remains paramount. Adhering to these practical tips will help secure both yourself and your family:
- Practice care with personal information: Never divulge sensitive details over the phone unless you are confident of the caller's authenticity. Scammers often masquerade as trustworthy institutions like banks, government agencies, or corporations, never requesting sensitive information through phone calls.
- Adjust privacy settings: Tightening privacy settings on social media platforms – particularly for video-based apps like TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube – minimizes the chance of scammers accessing personal information.
- Guard against voice cloning: Scammers can clone voices with minimal audio input. Erase personal voicemail messages, opting for automated ones instead.
- Establish a family safe word or phrase: Creating a secret word or phrase for emergencies verifies the identity of anyone claiming to be a family member on the phone.
- Pause before taking action: Pressure tactics employed by scammers can induce hasty responses. Pause, verify the claims, and refrain from sharing information. Hang up and contact the organization independently using verified contact details if uncertain.
Final Thoughts
The holiday season is a period for celebration, but it also presents an attractive opportunity for fraudsters to exploit our generosity and busy schedules. By capitalizing on the prevention services offered by telecom providers and exercising caution, you can effectively protect yourself and your loved ones from call scams. Remember, the most effective defense entails a blend of awareness, caution, and proactive steps to safeguard personal information. Stay secure, and enjoy a scam-free Christmas!
- In the realm of personal finance, it's crucial to be mindful of increased cybersecurity threats during the holiday season, as scammers often take advantage of busy shopping schedules to commit fraud.
- Home-and-garden enthusiasts should also pay attention to securing their smart devices and apps, as these can be gateways for cyber threats when they are linked to financial accounts.
- Technology advancements have made it possible for certain applications to offer AI-driven scam protection features similar to those provided by UK telecom service providers, providing an extra layer of security for users.
