Press Release
22nd October 2012
Click & Tell - and help friends and family to Get Safe Online
The internet is a great place to communicate, buy and sell, access information and services, pay bills, get your entertainment and do many other day-to-day things. But it also provides the ideal environment for criminals to carry out fraud, identity theft, bullying, computer damage and many other activities that spoil the online experience for their victims.
Get Safe Online Week (22 to 26 October) is an ideal opportunity to pass on online safety tips to friends, family, colleagues, neighbours or even strangers who you think may benefit from the advice. And the same holds true for advice on dealing with unwanted phone calls and junk mail.
"People in Shetland were shocked to hear the recent reports of people having thousands of pounds taken from their accounts after they responded to scam phone calls claiming to be from bank staff, and I'm sure we will now all be more vigilant about that particular kind of approach”, says Trading Standards Team Leader, David Marsh.
“There are, however, many other ways in which unscrupulous people may attempt to get hold of our personal details in order to get their hands on our money. Some of these scammers are very clever, and use sophisticated techniques to try to draw us in to their traps - but the best advice is quite simple and straightforward. Always question why someone has contacted you, don’t be afraid to put the phone down, and never give out your personal details to anyone who calls you out of the blue - and encourage your family, friends and neighbours to take the same approach.
"And remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
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