How to stay safe online

The internet has revolutionised our lives. But for all of the benefits it has brought us, there are considerable threats. This section contains tips and guidance on how to ensure you stay safe when you’re online.

  • It’s important that you know how to keep yourself safe online. This information is from Connecting Scotland. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) also provides lots of helpful advice to protect you and your family.

  • Use secure passwords and do not share them with anyone else. Passwords are like keys to your house. If you give them to someone they can use them to get hold of your personal information.

    Do not share your bank or debit card details until you know how to shop online safely.

    Do not share any personal information, like your name or address, with people you don’t know. The people you know shouldn’t need to ask you for this information.

    You should never post messages or photos of other people without their permission.

  • This online shopping guide will keep you safe from fraudsters whilst you get the best deals.

    Find out more about the tactics and techniques scammers use to defraud Scottish consumers.

  • Many people use video calls to stay in touch with family and friends. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have guidance on how to do video calls safely.

  • This guide will help to ensure you donate your money to charities, not criminals..

  • New console? Enjoy gaming securely & protect your privacy with a few simple tips.

  • Learn My Way has a short course for anyone who’s new to the internet. It covers some of the basics of staying safe online.

    BT Skills for Tomorrow has detailed information on how to stay safe online and keep children safe online.

How to identify a scam

The are many types of scams people use to take advantage of you. The tips below will help you and your family identify scams while teaching you how to avoid them.

  • A scam is a type of fraud where someone steals your money or information. The most common scams are online, but you can also be targeted by post or with a text message or a phone call. This information comes from Citizens Advice Scotland. You can click on the link to visit their website.

  • There have been many coronavirus scams, including:

    doorstep scams – asking for money or to take your temperature

    online scams – websites pretending to sell hand sanitiser and masks

    phone or text scams – pretending to be from HMRC or the World Health Organisation (WHO)

    scam emails – hackers sending emails that look like they’re giving information about coronavirus

    contact tracing text scams – the text has a link to a website that asks for your personal details. NHS Scotland’s contact tracers won’t ask you to provide details of bank accounts or social media accounts, to set up a password or PIN over the phone, or to call a premium rate number, like one starting 09 or 087. Check how contact tracing works in Scotland on NHS inform.

    contact tracing call scams – a contact tracer from NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect will only call you from 0800 030 8012. They’ll give you the option to call back on that number if you want to make sure it’s not a scam. Check NHS inform’s contact tracing guidance to find out more, including what information you’ll be asked to give.

    If you’ve been contacted by a person you’ve never heard of, or a company you’ve never used, it’s likely to be a scam.

    You should also be careful about answering the door to anyone you weren’t expecting.

    Coronavirus scams can be difficult to recognise, but there are things you can look out for.

    To find out how to report a coronavirus scam, use our chat service.

    If you’ve entered your bank details and think it might have been a scam, you should contact your bank immediately. You can also contact the police on 101.

  • Scam TV Licensing emails use subject lines like ‘correct your licensing information’ or ‘your bank declined the latest direct debit’. They often try and convince you to hand over personal information such as bank details.

    If you’re unsure about a TV licence email, check the list of common signs of a scam on the TV Licensing website.

    Scam TV Licensing texts may ask for personal information such as bank details or your security code. Find out how to identify a scam text on the TV Licensing website.

    To find out how to report a scam TV Licensing email or text, use our chat service. If you have entered bank details, you should contact your bank immediately. You can also contact the Police on 101.

  • HMRC scams texts can say something like ‘HMRC have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of 228.37 GDP’. The text may include a link which takes you to a fake website, which looks the same as the UK Government website.

    To get advice about an HMRC scam text, use our chat service. You can report HMRC scam texts directly to HMRC using the details on the HMRC website.

    If you have entered bank details, you should contact your bank immediately. You can also contact the Police on 101.

  • You may have received a scam email from PayPal about ‘suspicious activity on your account’. Other common scams tell you that your account has been suspended or that you are due a refund.

    A quick way to identify a scam email is to check the sender’s email address. If it’s something like zxk1942R3@gmail.com, it’s a scam. You can find more ways to check for scams on the PayPal website.

    If you have entered sensitive information or bank details, you should change your password and security question as soon as possible. You should also report it to PayPal and your bank.

    If you need more advice, you can use our chat service or you can call Police Scotland on 101.

  • Scam bank texts may ask you to call a number or visit a website to verify your details. A bogus text may also ask you for a pin or passcode, or tell you that you are due a refund. The message will try to alarm you and make you act quickly.

    Find more information about how to spot a scam bank text on the Police Scotland website.

    If you receive a scam bank text, avoid clicking on any links in the message and contact your bank as soon as possible. Most banks have a dedicated scam service that will be able to help.

    To find out how to report a scam bank text, use our chat service. You can also contact the Police on 101.

  • Dating scams often start with a sad or ‘hard luck’ story. Once they’ve gained your trust, or declare their love, they may ask for money or gifts.

    It can be difficult to spot a dating scam so it may be worth sharing your experience with a friend or a relative to get their opinion. There is more advice about avoiding dating scams on the Get Safe Online website.

    If you’re suspicious, report the person to the dating website you’re using. To get advice on dating and romance scams, use our chat service. You can also contact the Police on 101.