09 March 2024 , 11:54
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Millions of Brits are being warned to stay vigilant this weekend - as mobile phone scammers are likely to take advantage of Mother's Day to steal personal details.
EE, one of the UK's leading mobile networks, has urged its more than 20 million customers to look out for the telltale signs of a suspicious call or text. The mobile network provider expects to block a whopping 10 million spam calls and texts this month alone, warning all users that cyber crooks are known to spring into action around Mother's Day, where they often fool people into believing they missed a fake delivery.
Scammers will typically send messages warning people they've missed a parcel, before asking them to click a link to arrange another delivery time. Last year, around Mother's Day, EE blocked 3.3 million dodgy text messages and 4.9 million scam calls, but this year, they believe the total number could hit over 10 million.
EE is also no longer using 'mother's maiden name' as a security question for customers after research by the provider found almost two-thirds of Brits use this question to keep their personal accounts safe. These include bank accounts and tech subscriptions. If a criminal knows your mother's maiden name, they might be able to get into your accounts.
Helen Burrows, Policy Director at BT/EE said: “Mother’s Day is sadly always a scam risk for mums across the UK, as millions of unsolicited yet much-appreciated deliveries turn up on doorsteps across the country, opening the door for the now ubiquitous delivery scam.
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“We stop millions of scam attempts from reaching our customers every month, and this weekend will be no different. I’d urge consumers to be on their guard this weekend for the few that make it through network defences.”
EE's top tips to avoid scams this Mother’s Day, and all year round, are as follows:
Stop, think and trust your instincts. If it sounds too good to be true or feels suspicious, there is probably a catch
If you’re not sure the caller is 100% genuine, don’t stay on the phone to them
Don’t give away any of your personal details or give anyone access to your computer – if you think you might have provided your bank account details, you should contact your bank immediately
Make sure your device(s) are up to date with all the latest software and firewall updates
Put the phone down straight away if you receive a suspicious call. You don’t have to engage
If you’re suspicious about a call, text the phone number and details of the incident to 7726. Your mobile provider can then investigate to see if it’s spam.
Block phone numbers from being able to call you again on any mobile phone if you’ve identified a scam