With online scams becoming more prevalent in Jersey we wanted to share some top tips to help you protect yourself from online scams.

Recently an Islander was scammed out of £800 on Facebook. The scammer had hacked into a Facebook friend’s accounts and pretended that he was selling Oasis tickets. Unfortunately, because the victim thought the deal was with a friend, she gave the money before seeing the Oasis tickets. The scam was only noticed when the actual friend came to her place of work and had no knowledge of the transaction.

Scammers are getting more and more sophisticated, so we need to be on the lookout. It is important to acknowledge that online crime is now common, and it is so easy for anyone to be duped.

The Jersey Cyber Security Centre have put together these helpful steps to spot a cyber scam and protect yourself.

How to spot a scam

Be on the lookout for these common signs of scams:

• Fake reviews. Scammers often use fake reviews to make their offers look more legitimate.
• Misleading sign-up processes. Be on the lookout for unclear or deceptive sign-up procedures.
• High-pressure sales tactics. Be wary of offers that pressure you into making quick decisions.
• Clickbait headlines. Scams will often use headlines designed to grab your attention and make you click.
• Sense of urgency. Offers that are time-limited or create a sense of urgency are common scam tactics.
• No trading history. If a company has no trading history or a poor reputation, be cautious.
• No local entity. If the business isn’t locally recognised or registered, it’s a red flag.

What you can do

Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself from online scams:

• Use reputable local businesses. Stick with companies you know and trust. If you don’t recognise a company, try to search for independent reviews.
• Verify who you’re dealing with. Scammers often avoid revealing their true identities or details about their operations. Check website terms and conditions and privacy policies – these should clearly state the name of the legal entity you’re dealing with. Never hand over any money until you have the seen and tested the goods.
• Check for registration. In the case of companies providing some kind of financial service, you should check that the company is registered with the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC).
• Research independently. Instead of clicking on links from online ads or SMS messages, look up the company online yourself via a search engine. This will give you access to unbiased information and reviews.

Remember, if you find a cyber scam that you think might pose a serious risk to you or others, you can report it to JCSC using our contact details. If you have been a victim of fraud, you should report it to the States of Jersey Police by calling +44 (00) 1534 612 612.

The bottom line

Always remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.