Keeping your online passwords safe
One of the best ways of preserving your data online is to use strong passwords. Unique passwords are be a great help, but they will only be effective if the passwords themselves are stored somewhere safe. It is tempting to store them somewhere they can be used quickly and easily, but this may be a big mistake.
Which? has identified six password storage habits which should be avoided and published information about how to keep your passwords and your details safe.
You can learn more how to keep you passwords safe here .
How to get rid of scam calendar invitations
People often receive scam calendar invitations. These can be very annoying and even dangerous. They are designed to deceive you into responding and in so doing you can let the scammers know that your email account is active.
It has also been noted that “unfortunately, removing these invitations isn’t always as simple as deleting the original email. On an iPhone, the calendar invitation can remain in Apple’s calendar app even after the email has been deleted”.
However, the experts from Which? are able to help people keep safe. They explain why you “shouldn’t tap accept, maybe or decline, and share the workaround recommended by the Which? Tech Support team. This way, you can clear the invitation from your calendar without accidentally interacting with the scam”.
For more details about this advice, please see here .
How to stop scam pop-ups on Windows
Scam pop-ups use urgent messages to cause panic along with fake alerts and flashing warnings in order to grab your attention. If you try and interact with a scam pop-up you could then be tricked into downloading malicious software, calling a fake phone number or handing over personal and financial information.
Tech support experts from Which? regularly support people in such situations and also give advice about how to avoid the pop-ups altogether. They have stated that “by changing a few browser settings and removing notification permissions from suspicious websites, you can reduce the chances of seeing them again.”
Which? explains here how you can avoid pop-ups on your screen.
How to spot a WhatsApp scam
Scam messages which promote a sham service called WhatsApp Gold have begun circulating again. The scam offers people special features. These special features can be unlocked by simply clicking a link provided.
Experts from Which? have compiled the most common scams you might come across on WhatsApp and have also offered tips on how to spot them and to report them to help keep others safe.
To learn more about these scams and how to spot them, please see here .
A convincing Apple Pay scam
Apple Pay is said to be an easy way to pay bills, compared to using cards or cash.
Which? has been inundated recently by a series of scam Apple Pay text messages. The messages are said to be convincing and tell you that your Apple Pay has been suspended temporarily and asking you to register your payment details.
It has been further noted that “if you add your information, the criminals will quickly enter your card details into their device to set up a new wallet”.
Find out here exactly how this scam works and what you can do if you receive one of these texts.
Investment scams surge
Investment scams are common. The Financial Conduct authority advises people that “in the UK, almost all financial firms must be authorised or registered by us. While it won’t remove all risk, using an authorised firm with the correct permissions will greatly reduce your risk of harm”.
They also advise that “your rights as a consumer are protected by law. Find out what you can do if something goes wrong.
Which? has also alerted people to a government campaign featuring Savvy the Squirrel, which is encouraging people to invest more, but without really explaining the growing threats to investors.
In response, Faye Lipsom, the fraud expert from Which? has explained how such scammers operate and some common tactics to watch out for, including fake trading firms and an AI-generated Nigel Farage video.
To learn more about how to avoid investment scams please see here .
Scam sharer tool
There is a scam sharer tool you can use to help others to avoid being victims. You can find the tool here.
