Protecting yourself
Hints and tips on how to avoid scams and keep safe
If you think you've been a victim of fraud, act promptly.
If you have M&S Bank card, call 0345 900 0900. Also, let any other credit providers know straightaway.
There's lots you can do to help protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud.
Start by following these simple steps and be aware of the various ways that fraud can be carried out.
Never tell someone your password or PIN – or write them down. Don't be tempted to use passwords that can easily be guessed such as children's names or birth dates. Choose a combination of numbers and letters of upper and lower case to strengthen your password. And don't use the same password for other online accounts.
If you're in a secure (padlocked) part of the M&S Bank website, always click on the log out link when you've finished. And if other people use your computer, close the internet browser too.
Social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, are becoming a particular target for cyber-criminals wanting to gather small pieces of personal information published online. If you allow it, people can see your date of birth, mobile number, address, information on your family and potentially much more. If enough personal information is collected, it could be used to steal your identity.
Instead try to limit how much personal info you give away online. And check the privacy settings on each site that you use to make sure you only share personal information with people you trust.
If you have any questions or concerns about the security of your M&S Bank cards, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us on 0345 900 0900.
Using the latest software version makes your computer more secure. Always register your software for support – and subscribe to alert and update services.
Your mobile phones and devices can contain personal information – you may use them for internet banking or online shopping, for example. To make your devices more secure, you may want to consider:
Criminals are in it for the money. They can make money online by:
Criminals can be good at making their emails and websites look legitimate, but here are a few ways to spot fake ones:
Protecting yourself and your money takes a bit of knowledge and the right software. A good starting point is to download Rapport software and use an up-to-date browser, which we refer to on this site.
Criminals can steal people’s identity by accessing personal information from different sources, including paper bank statements. Store paper documents securely and, if you decide to throw them away in the future, make sure they’re shredded or ripped up before you put them in the bin.
Avoid using online banking, social networking, sending emails or making purchases on public Wi-Fi or internet café/public library computers. Cyber-criminals can set up fake Wi-Fi hotspots that appear to be legitimate, but which allow them to track your activity once you’ve logged onto the Wi-Fi.
Often public computers don’t have good enough protection software installed to recognise and quarantine malicious software (malware) that could record your log-in details if you enter them. It’s also important not to save any personal information (such as usernames or account details) on a public computer – you don’t want anyone to be able to access them after you’ve finished!
Internet viruses are bad news. They steal personal information, can take over your PC or even use your computer to attack other people's. An up-to-date anti-virus software should protect you against all of them.
There are many effective anti-virus software programs to choose from – both paid for and free – ask someone you trust what they use or do your research on the internet. Set the software to scan files when you access them – and to download updates when you go online.
And don't forget, anti-virus software isn't just for computers, so make sure any other devices you use for surfing the web are also protected.
Software is available to allow genuine people to remotely access your PC (IT companies for repair, for example). Fraudsters can also use this to remotely access your PC and act on your behalf. If you do not need to use this software, remove it from your PC.
Cyber-criminals now regularly use social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to target people with the latest fraud scams.
Did you know?
Questionnaires on social networking sites might seem harmless and fun, but these quiz questions can be similar to security questions used to access your personal accounts – such as the name of a family pet or your home town – and your answers could be used to hack your accounts.
You may enter online competitions to win prizes, but fake competitions can be used by criminals to gather personal information about you. Even a competition shared by a friend could be a scam, so don’t forget to check before entering and providing any details.
Criminals also hack into social media accounts and impersonate individuals to trick friends and family into providing their bank details or sending them money. If you get an unusual request from a contact, it’s best to check with them directly to confirm it’s genuine.
Here are some ways you can stay safe on social media:
If you think you've been the victim of a scam,
report it to us as soon as
possible by calling
0345
900
0900.
You should also report it to Action
Fraud (link opens in a new
window).
You can also visit the Take Five (link opens in a new window) website for more help on protecting yourself against fraud.
We also have our own Financial Fraud leaflet which tells you more about how to stay safe online.