The government has launched a campaign to raise awareness of financial criminal activity.
Called ‘Take 5’, the campaign encourages UK savers to take a moment to consider whether a phone call, email or act from a business or individual is genuine.
The core message is to:
- Stop – take a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information.
- Challenge – Could it be fake? It is okay to reject, refuse or ignore requests.
- Protect – Contact your financial service immediately if you think you have been scammed.
A government spokesperson said: “Fraud can happen to anyone. Criminals use emails, texts, phone calls, social media, fake websites and convincing stories to try to steal your money or personal information.
“If you receive an unexpected message, call, email or request for money or personal information, stop and think before you act. Ask yourself whether the request could be fake, and do not be rushed into making a payment, clicking a link or sharing details.”
At Medical Family Finance, we strongly recommend to always use a secure client portal to exchange personal information. Emails are not a safe method of communication.
