Technology

Here's a few resources on keeping yourself and your devices safe online:

• Ask Silver - a free, AI-powered scam checking tool that lives inside of WhatsApp and is also available via Get Safe Online and Friends Against Scams (both listed below).

• Friends Against Scams - a National Trading Standards Scams Team initiative that aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams by empowering people to take a stand against scams.

• FCA Firm Checker - a Financial Conduct Authority online tool that lets you check if a financial firm is FCA authorised and has permission to provide the services it's offering.

• Get Safe Online - provides practical advice on how to protect yourself, your computers and mobiles devices against fraud, identity theft, viruses and many other problems encountered online.

• Google Safe Browsing - a free, online utility to let you check if Google thinks a website is currently dangerous to visit.

• ICO: For The Public - the Information Commissioner's Office information portal where you can find out about your data protection and information rights including how to make a SAR, how to make an FOI request, home CCTV and data protection, protecting yourself against nuisance marketing and more.

• Malwarebytes Mobile Security App - a free app for Android and iOS that simplifies scam prevention by providing real-time feedback via an easy-to-use AI-powered chat. Just submit a screenshot, paste suspicious content, or share texts and numbers, and it’ll give you immediate personalized guidance and safety tips.

• millersmiles.co.uk - an online source of information about spoof email and phishing scams and offers daily reports of new scams that are in circulation.

• NCSC Cyber Aware - the UK government's advice on how to stay secure online.

• NCSC Email Security Check - a free, online application from the UK National Cyber Security Centre that can be used to identify vulnerabilities pertaining to spoofing in mailing systems and issues related to breaches of privacy.

• ScamAdviser - a consumer advice service that lets you check if a website is fake or a scam.

• Police Scotland: Scams and Frauds - information on different types of fraud and advice on how you can try to avoid becoming a victim.

• Scam Spotter - an initiative by Google and the Cybercrime Support Network designed to help people spot the most common patterns used by scammers and offers some practical advice to help you avoid them.

• Stop Scams UK - the organization behind the 159 phone number that provides an easy route back to safety when you get an unexpected phone call about a financial matter. 159 works in the same way as 101 for the police or 111 for the NHS. It’s the number you can trust to get you through to your bank safely and securely, every time.

• Take Five - To Stop Fraud - a UK campaign that offers straight-forward and impartial advice to help everyone protect themselves from preventable financial fraud.

• Think Before You Link - a free app for Android and iOS from the National Protective Security Authority (the UK Government's technical authority on physical and personnel security).

• Telephone Preference Service - a free opt out service enabling you to record your preference on the official register and not receive unsolicited sales or marketing calls to your landline or mobile in the UK.

• Trading Standards Scotland Scam Share - a weekly newsletter and podcast keeping you up to date with the latest phone, email, doorstep and online scams affecting Scottish consumers.

• Which? Scam Alerts - a newsletter that keeps you informed about current and ongoing scams.

• Which? Scam Sharer - an online scam reporting tool from Which? magazine.

• Who Called Me? - a free UK service that helps you to avoid nuisance calls and scams.