Posted: Mon 20th Feb 2023

BT Customers beware scammers are using convincing fake emails to steal personal information

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales

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Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, has issued a warning after receiving almost 700 reports in just two weeks relating to fake emails purporting to be from BT. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The emails, which commonly use the subject line “Your bill is ready,” contain a link that can be used to make a payment. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, the links in the emails lead to convincing phishing websites that are designed to steal BT login credentials, as well as personal and financial information. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Action Fraud has urged anyone who receives such an email to exercise caution and take steps to verify its authenticity before taking any action. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“If you have doubts about a message, contact the organisation directly,” Action Fraud has said. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Don’t use the numbers or address in the message – use the details from their official website.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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Phishing is a type of online identity theft where scammers use messages designed to look as if they are from a genuine company to try and trick you into giving out private information like your BT ID username and password or even your bank details. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

To help individuals protect themselves from these types of scams, BT has issued a set of guidelines urging people to “think before you click.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The company has also reminded customers that it will never ask for personal or banking information out of the blue or send an email with an attachment. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Customers who are worried about an email that appears to be from BT are advised to type www.bt.com/mybt into their browser to log in to their My BT account, rather than clicking on any links. From there, they can check their account details and view their bill. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Alternatively, individuals can use BT’s automated phone service to check their balance by calling 0800 443 311. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

If an email looks suspicious, BT urges customers to forward it to its dedicated mailbox at phishing@bt.com and delete the email. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

For further help with phishing emails and what to do if you’ve clicked on a link, customers can refer to BT’s guides, which can be found at bt.com/scams. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Anyone who suspects they may have received a suspicious email is urged to forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) at report@phishing.gov.uk. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​


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