Dealing with phone scams

With many people spending more time at home and without access to certain services there has unfortunately been a surge in phone scams lately.

​There are so many online scammers that wait for the right moment to trap you with wrong intentions. These scammers might call you and claim to be from reputed companies. They might try to trick you into scams related to your insurance, banks, the lottery and other scenarios. Be careful with any information you give out over the phone, and you'll be in better shape to avoid such a scam.
Here are some steps we think are useful in keeping you and your personal information safe:

• Do not confirm or deny your identity until you know who is calling. Do not share any information before confirming their identity. 
• Check the legitimacy of any agency, organisation, or company calling you (e.g. your bank, insurance, etc) by having them recite your membership or policy number to you. Often scam callers know your name and phone number, and sometimes even your address, so there is no use of having them confirm these to you. 
• If you are still unsure, tell the caller that you will phone back on the phone number listed on official documents, such as bank statements or policy paperwork. 
• Remember that no bank will ever phone you to ask about your account details, the same goes for many companies and organisations offering a service that your bank account is tied to, including insurance, electricity and oil provision, or anywhere else where you can pay online (including Amazon) or that don't offer paid services as such (for example Facebook, WhatsApp, or Instagram). 

It is also worth noting that scammers use text messages and emails too. Always be wary of opening unsolicited messages.