It's that time of year again where we get busy with Christmas shopping – and as we do, so too do online scammers. In fact, Brits lost more than £11.5m to such scams through November 2023 to January 2024, says the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in a recent blog.* To highlight these issues, the government body has launched its "Stop! Think Fraud" campaign. It’s aimed at consumers, but as the boundaries between work and personal tech have been blurred – and it's not unusual for employees to do a little Christmas shopping on their lunch breaks – we think it's just as useful for employers. A key message here is setting up 2-factor authentication – and there's a useful guide to this in the campaign information hub. If you work in an IT department and need something that conveys this info clearly and simply, you might find the NCSC’s materials helpful – and if you'd like more tailored advice, don't hesitate to get in touch. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e7EXeFtE *Source for figures: https://lnkd.in/eA7qRc2V #cybercriminals #2FA #Christmasshopping
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Stay Cyber Safe This Black Friday The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued a timely reminder for shoppers and businesses to stay vigilant against online fraud during Black Friday. With online sales projected to surge, cybercriminals are ready to take advantage. Key insights include: 🔐 46% of UK consumers are concerned about online shopping fraud—a valid fear given the rise in phishing and fake websites. 🛍️ Black Friday scams accounted for £15.3 million in losses last year, highlighting the need for caution. 📧 Email scams and fraudulent texts are among the most common attack mechanisms, designed to trick users into sharing sensitive information. The NCSC recommends: - Using strong, unique passwords for online accounts. - Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. - Staying cautious with deals that seem "too good to be true" and verifying websites before making purchases. https://ow.ly/s9qV50UfoUC #DataProtection #ITSecurity #SMEs #CyberSecurity #SMEs #CyberResilience #itsupport #CyberEssentials #Ransomware #NCSC #BusinessContinuity #CyberAwareness
Black Friday warning: shoppers urged to protect themselves online as figures reveal rising losses to scams
ncsc.gov.uk
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Stay safe during the #BlackFriday season The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has reported that shoppers lost over £11.5 million to online criminals between November 2023 and January 2024. Each victim lost an average of £695. A total of £10.6 million was lost the previous year. The Black Friday season can be a good time to find bargains for businesses as well as individual shoppers. However, it’s evident that online criminals are doing their best to take advantage of the increased shopping activity. It’s important then that you and your business exercise vigilance during this time. NCSC advise that criminals will often create false urgency by using limited-time offers or promoting items that seem scarce or not widely available. Anyone involved in purchasing should be made aware that if they see or hear anything that doesn’t seem quite right, they should immediately: 1. Break the contact and don’t click on any links. 2. Research the company or seller by looking at reviews on trusted review sites. Another important step that the NCSC recommends taking is to enable two-step verification on any online accounts you have. You should also make sure that all online accounts are protected with a memorable but secure password. By taking these essential measures you will help protect yourself and your business from fraud while you track down any bargains! To review the report and guidance in full, see: https://lnkd.in/eanhtV8K
Black Friday warning: shoppers urged to protect themselves online as figures reveal rising losses to scams
ncsc.gov.uk
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🛍️ Black Friday Alert: Rising Scam Losses Demand Vigilance NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY CENTRE As Black Friday approaches, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reports a significant increase in scam-related losses during the festive season. Cybercriminals exploit the surge in online shopping, leading to substantial financial losses for consumers. #CyberSecurity #BlackFriday #OnlineSafety #NCSC #FraudPrevention https://lnkd.in/eyZDjdfA
Black Friday warning: shoppers urged to protect themselves online as figures reveal rising losses to scams
ncsc.gov.uk
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If it's too good to be true, it probably isn't. Online shopping will increase over the next few weeks, and the traditional 'Black Friday' sales will occur. Scammers know this is an opportune time to get amongst the real offers and try to go undetected until it's too late. Double-check any online deals, and it is best to be cautious. Have a read of some great advice from National Cyber Security Centre news. #StopThinkFraud #CyberSecurity #BlackFriday #NCSC https://lnkd.in/eQTt2nbP
Black Friday warning: shoppers urged to protect themselves online as figures reveal rising losses to scams
ncsc.gov.uk
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NCSC urges online shoppers to protect themselves on Black Friday. Brits lost over £11.5 million to cyber criminals over last year's festive period, compared to £10.6 million the previous year. Shoppers are encouraged to enable multi-factor authentication on their accounts to help keep them secure. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eanhtV8K #BlackFriday #CyberSecurity #InfoSec #Spritzmonkey
Black Friday warning: shoppers urged to protect themselves online as figures reveal rising losses to scams
ncsc.gov.uk
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💳 Stay Scam-Safe This Black Friday With Black Friday just around the corner, fraudsters are gearing up to take advantage of the shopping frenzy. Purchase fraud, where victims are tricked into buying goods that don’t exist, is one of the most common scams during this time. 🔍 Look out for: Unrealistically low prices on high-demand items. Suspicious messages or ads on social media and email. Click here to find out more from the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Centre: https://lnkd.in/eanhtV8K #EcologyBuildingSociety #fraudweek #fraudawarenessweek #financialsecurity #fraudprevention #blackfriday #purchasefraud #financialawareness #onlinesecurity
Black Friday warning: shoppers urged to protect themselves online as figures reveal rising losses to scams
ncsc.gov.uk
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🚨 STAY SAFE DURING BLACK FRIDAY SEASON 🚨 The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has reported that shoppers lost over £11.5 million to online criminals between November 2023 and January 2024. Each victim lost an average of £695. A total of £10.6 million was lost the previous year. The Black Friday season can be a good time to find bargains for businesses as well as individual shoppers. However, it’s evident that online criminals are doing their best to take advantage of the increased shopping activity. It’s important then that you and your business exercise vigilance during this time. NCSC advise that criminals will often create false urgency by using limited-time offers or promoting items that seem scarce or not widely available. Anyone involved in purchasing should be made aware that if they see or hear anything that doesn’t seem quite right, they should immediately: ➡️ Break the contact and don’t click on any links. ➡️ Research the company or seller by looking at reviews on trusted review sites. Another important step that the NCSC recommends taking is to enable two-step verification on any online accounts you have. You should also make sure that all online accounts are protected with a memorable but secure password. By taking these essential measures you will help protect yourself and your business from fraud while you track down any bargains! To review the report and guidance in full, see: https://lnkd.in/eHhmgaHa
Black Friday warning: shoppers urged to protect themselves online as figures reveal rising losses to scams
ncsc.gov.uk
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As we head towards #BlackFriday, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre published this piece highlighting the scale of fraud in the UK and offering some practical advice to consumers on how to protect themselves. https://lnkd.in/dHqKENFH
Black Friday warning: shoppers urged to protect themselves online as figures reveal rising losses to scams
ncsc.gov.uk
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Our experts are warning businesses about the cyber threats surge during #BlackFriday. From phishing to social media scams, it’s time to beef up your defences. Train your staff, monitor transactions, and use secure payment methods. Stay vigilant! 👉 Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/eanhtV8K
Black Friday warning: shoppers urged to protect themselves online as figures reveal rising losses to scams
ncsc.gov.uk
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🚨 Black Friday guidance on : Protecting Yourself from Online Scams! 🚨 With shoppers losing over £11.5 million to scams last year the holiday shopping season is prime time for cybercriminals . From fake deals on clothing and tech to fraudulent car listings, no one is immune. Here’s how you can shop safely: ✔️ Enable 2-Step Verification (2SV) on your key accounts – it’s a simple extra layer of security. ✔️ Stop and think before clicking on links or deals that seem too good to be true. ✔️ Research sellers and companies through trusted review sites. ✔️ Pay with a credit card, not bank transfers, for better protection. Don’t let cybercriminals steal your holiday cheer. Follow the Stop! Think Fraud guidance and stay one step ahead of online scammers. 🎁 Shop smart, stay secure! For further info see the latest NCSC Blog: https://lnkd.in/eKvUkRrN #CyberSecurity #BlackFriday #OnlineSafety #StopThinkFraud
Black Friday warning: shoppers urged to protect themselves online as figures reveal rising losses to scams
ncsc.gov.uk
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