Three common scams and how to protect yourself from them

The scam: “Hi Mum, I’ve got a new phone” or messages about missed deliveries.

Fraudsters send out mass messages suggesting that the recipient needs to update their details. It is just a way of harvesting vital banking details in order to steal money.

In the case of the “Hi Mum” text, the message is usually followed by an urgent request to send money. Banks reported a surge in “Hi Dad” scams in the run-up to Father’s Day.

Messages about missed deliveries usually include a link which, when clicked on, take the recipient to an official-looking website.

It is run by fraudsters and gathers banking information which is then used in so-called remote-purchase fraud – when criminals buy things from stolen card details. Some £423m was lost this way last year, according to UK Finance.

How to avoid it: Type, don’t tap.

Experts urge people to avoid tapping on links. If a message claims to be from, for example, Royal Mail, then type out the genuine Royal Mail website.

Card details can be stolen in many different ways, such as through data breaches. But fraudsters often need a One-Time Passcode (OTP) to complete a theft. These should be treated as carefully as bank details and never given to someone who calls pretending to authorise a transaction.

It may seem obvious, but fraudsters are skilled in keeping you on the phone for ages to trick you into giving the number.