Tools and tips to help you
stay safe online.

Scammers can take advantage of goodwill by disguising their scams as legitimate messages. Alongside emails, scammers may also use text messages, automated calls and malicious websites to exploit you.

Phishing is an attempt to trick you into revealing critical personal or financial information, like a password or bank details. It can take many forms, such as a fake login page. To avoid getting phished, never click on questionable links; double-check the URL — by hovering over the link or long-pressing the text on mobile — to make sure that the website or app is legitimate; and make sure that the URL begins with 'https'.

Scammers might pose as legitimate organisations like the Government or a charity. Always proceed with caution when reading messages from someone claiming to be an authoritative resource. If someone that you know emails you but the message seems odd, their account may have been hacked. Don’t reply to the message or click any links unless you can confirm the email is legitimate. Look out for things like urgent requests for money, sob stories about being stranded abroad, or the person claiming that their phone was stolen and cannot be called.

Messages from strangers can be suspect, and even a communication from someone that you trust, like your bank, might be an impersonation. Don't reply to suspicious emails, instant messages or pop-up windows that ask for personal information. Never click suspicious links or enter personal information in questionable forms or surveys. If asked to donate to charity, go directly to the organisation's website to donate rather than clicking on the link sent to you.

Some sophisticated phishing attacks can occur through infected documents and PDF attachments. If you come across a suspicious attachment, use Chrome or Google Drive to open it. We’ll automatically scan the file and warn you if we detect a virus.