The crucial lines of defence against scams and cyber attacks

Here are some steps Bottega says will help customers better protect themselves against scams and cyber attacks.

Passwords and two-factor authentication

We recommend regularly changing your password and not having the same password across multiple platforms. A lot of services today, such as your social media or your email account, also allow for you to register for two-factor authentication. That means is if there is an unfamiliar log in from somewhere you haven't seen before, you can be sent a code to authenticate yourself.

This creates an additional layer of security if someone was attempting to access your social media or your email using the password only. You would receive that notification and know your password had potentially been compromised.

Anti-virus software and privacy settings

One thing people forget about is installing antivirus software. This software provides a significant amount of protection from suspicious malware both on mobile devices and laptop computers.

We also recommend keeping privacy and security settings locked down on social media. Given the information we share on our social media these days, it's important to keep that restricted and not open to the public. We want to prevent someone viewing your social media account and obtaining information that may help them commit fraud.

Suspicious phone calls, texts, emails

Be aware you may be contacted via the phone or email or even social media from scammers looking to elicit additional information. Recently we have seen an increase in the so-called "Hey Mum" scam.

This involves a customer being contacted by someone claiming to be their child and advising their mobile phone has been damaged or lost and asking for money to be transferred. If you ever receive a message that doesn't seem accurate or correct, always take additional steps to validate it before you do any of the actions being requested of you.

If you do receive a call from a company, the best thing to do if you are unsure is to hang up and call the number listed publicly on that company's website.

This will ensure you're speaking to the right person before you give out any personal information. It's really important to also regularly check your bank accounts. If you see any unfamiliar or suspicious activity, contact your bank immediately.

Check credit reports

Consumers are entitled to regular copies of their credit report. You can use this to identify if someone has applied for lending products in your name, which is a key indicator of identity fraud. If that has happened, contact the bank in question for more details.

Business email compromise

If you are a business keep an eye out for any unfamiliar emails advising you account details may have changed. Scammers often hack into the emails of legitimate companies and then send customers emails with new account details to transfer the money. Always pick up the phone and contact the company you're paying to make sure that email is accurate and their account details indeed have changed.