Troed‑yr‑aur
Community Council

Cyber Crime knows no boundaries, and the criminal no longer needs to be near your premises to steal from you. They are after your data and personal information. 
Don’t make it easy for them. In real life, we take precautions to stop people stealing from us. We need to make sure we do the same in the cyber world as well. 
By observing some simple ‘cyber safe’ rules, you will make it far harder for the criminal to ‘hack’ your account or steal your data.
 
We probably know a lot of the information already, but unless we apply it and keep check on it, we make it easy for the criminal.

• Always maintain a strong and individual password for an email account (do not use this password on any other online account).

• Employ two factor authentication if a website provides the facility
  (SMS text or better still, an online authenticator)

• If in doubt do not reply to an email – ring the person or company (using a number you know, or have obtained by a trusted method – back of bank card etc.)

• Use a Password Manager on your phone to keep a record of passwords – Dashlane is free and so is LastPass. (Both have premium features that can be upgraded to if needed)

• Do not click on the link in an email unless you know you can trust it. The link often looks ok, but the web address it goes to can easily be faked (Always hover over the link and the true web address will normally appear)

• iPhones and Android phones including tablets (iPads etc) often do not have as sophisticated web browsers, so hovering over email links does not always work.

• There are fake websites out there – some are cloned from an original (PayPal is often cloned) so always read the URL address in the top bar and make sure it says https for anything financial. Type in the URL that you know to be true – eg: www.paypal.com

• When using electronic banking, never pay the full amount to a new payee you have just set up via internet / app banking. It is suggested that you pay £1 and then phone / check that the payee has received the money. You can always lose £1, but anything more than that hurts!

• Remember - If a deal seems too good to be true, it normally is!

• Anti Virus Software is only good if it is kept up to date.

• Anti Virus software will not protect you from your own actions – so think before you click

• Banks, DVLA, HMRC will never email you asking for money directly – always phone the number on your bank card when dealing with the bank.

• No government agency will ask you to pay for money owed in iTunes, Steam, One4all or Amazon vouchers/cards.

Below are some links to useful online resources...

(As the subject of this email is a fraud prevention/protection message I would recommend you hover the mouse pointer over each link to ensure it is directing you to the same web address as the text suggests.)

• Take 5 to stop fraud:
  https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/

• Dealing with suspicious emails, phone calls and text messages
  https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/suspicious-email-actions

• Too smart to be scammed – take the 5 minute test:
  https://quiz.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/

• Parent Zone:
  https://parentzone.org.uk/

• Barclays
  https://digital.wings.uk.barclays/for-everyone/digital-safety

• National Cyber Security Centre:
  https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/information-for/individuals-families

• Action Fraud:
  https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

• Get Safe Online has a very good selection of advice:
  https://www.getsafeonline.org/

Best Principles:

Stop: Take a moment to think before parting with your money or information - it could keep you safe.

Challenge: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

Protect: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen victim to a scam and report it to the Police.

Report suspicious emails to: report@phishing.gov.uk

You can also report suspicious texts by forwarding the original message to 7726, which spells SPAM on your keypad.

The police, or your bank, will never ask you to withdraw money or transfer it to a different account. They will also never ask you to reveal your full banking password or PIN.

Do not click on links or attachments in unexpected or suspicious texts or emails.
Confirm requests are genuine by using a known number or email address to contact organisations directly.

Report to Dyfed Powys Police:
https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/en/contact-us/report-an-incident/ or call 101