Moray woman out to warn others after being hit by email scam
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A MORAY woman is warning people to be vigilant when using email after her account sent a virus out to her contacts list.
Pat Smith (82), from Birnie, is not sure how hackers managed to access her BT email address, from which they sent emails asking for "a favor".
The short email read "I am sorry for bothering you with this mail, Please can you do me a favor? Pat x".
If they responded, Mrs Smith's contacts were asked to purchase vouchers.
Mrs Smith said she was "embarrassed" by the ordeal but that she has learned a lot and is now determined to spread the word and stop the same happening to others, especially those in her age group.
She said: "It has given me an awful lot of hassle and I feel so responsible and embarrassed that something in my name has gone to my friends as far away as Hungary, Italy and Morocco.
"However, I've learned a lot. When you receive emails, always check the sender's email address and even if it seems correct but the message not what you would expect from that person, take a note of the content but then delete the email from your system.
"Do not reply to it and do not click on any links. Alert the sender by telephone. It is very unlikely that we would use email to ask for help to buy something.
"Has all this got a silver lining? Yes, in the last few days I have had conversations with friends from far and wide who were concerned for me."
BT warned about the increasing number of scams online, and said people must remain "aware" at all times.
A spokesperson said: “There are new scams popping up all the time, and increasingly targeting people online.
"With more of us shopping and communicating on the internet, it’s important to be aware of how to spot suspicious online activity.
“With two thirds of consumers saying hackers are so clever they can find out almost anything about you, we want to help BT customers feel confident they are making the right choices.
"If you are suspicious of an email, report it to us or if you think you have fallen victim to a scam, report it to Action Fraud.”
BT, and other email providers, will never email a customer to ask for remote access to their computer, ask for personal information unexpectedly (including bank details and passwords), tell them their router or IP address has been compromised, say that their broadband has been hacked, or threaten to disconnect their service unless they make a payment immediately
Customers should never share their account numbers with anyone, always shred bills, and be wary of emails that are not expected. If it’s an email pretending to be from BT then it should be forwarded as an attachment to phishing@bt.com.
If a customer is suspicious of an email, BT recommends they call the customer service number of the company that is supposedly emailing.
Anyone who has been scammed should report this to Action Fraud – the United Kingdom’s national fraud and internet crime reporting centre. This helps law enforcement agencies build up a wider picture that may help protect others. Customers can call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
