A BANK has issued a reminder to Scots to stay safe online as research reveals one in four don’t have their smartphone password protected.
As the busiest shopping period of the year approaches, the study also found that almost two fifths of young people are concerned they might be a victim of online scammers over the next year.
The Royal Bank of Scotland launched the campaign with a large-scale projection across its Dundas House home on St Andrew Square, Edinburgh to remind Scots to stay safe online.
The projection featured the words “hacker”, “blagger” and “cyber thieves” darting in and out of view, with a Big Brother-style eye blinking in the background.
It is hoped the security campaign will remind the public that one in six Scots have been the victim of online fraud and to take steps to help protect themselves from criminals who use the internet.
The statistics, contained within Royal Bank’s Mobile Microleisure Report, also reveal that one in four Scots don’t have their smartphone password protected.
As many as 39% of young people aged 18-34 in Scotland are worried about becoming a victim of online fraud in the next months.
The campaign, which begins as the busy festive shopping season approaches, was launched on the eve of a special edition of STV’s Stopping Scotland’s Scammers show.
The Black Friday edition of the STV show, which airs tonight at 8pm, focusses on how criminal gangs target shoppers looking for Christmas gift bargains online.
The series, sponsored by RBS, investigates the various ways scammers successfully conned £394 million from Scots last year.
Common tactics include “fishing” for sensitive information via calls, emails and text messages and promoting fake bargains where scammers claim to be offering customers a great deal or upgrade. Many attempt to claim there is fraudulent activity happening on your account which they say they can help you with.
The bank is encouraging people to stay safe online by changing passwords regularly, checking reviews or feedback from the seller and ensuring they have the latest security functions such as fingerprint login and Face ID.
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