Following the report, the National Cyber Security Center removed more than 329,000 website addresses.
Action Fraud, a national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, launched a national phishing awareness campaign on 24 June 2024 after reports reached the highest level since the inception of SERS. New data shows a 44% increase year-on-year, with approximately 11,611,400 reports to SERS in 2023, up from 8,074,200 in 2022.
In addition to emails, a huge number of text messages are also reported to 7726. In March 2024, over 60,000 malicious websites were taken down as a result of being reported using 7726, a free service offered by mobile network providers that allows customers to forward suspicious text messages and remove the malicious URL from the messages.
Claire Webb, deputy head of Action Fraud, said:
“Anyone can be a target when scammers phish for valuable information. They lure unsuspecting victims with seemingly legitimate emails, trying to get them to disclose their personal or bank account details.
“The number of people reporting phishing emails and text messages is increasing year on year, and Action Fraud urges everyone to be especially vigilant about suspicious emails arriving in their inboxes as they may contain malicious links leading to unknown websites.
“If you think you have received a phishing email or text message, please report it. You can also forward the email. [email protected]or forward spam text messages to 7726.”
SERS is National Cyber Security Centre In April 2020, the NCSC and City of London Police launched a service allowing members of the public to forward suspicious emails and report malicious website links. Since launch, the service has received over 30 million reports.
What is phishing?
“Phishing,” “quishing,” and “smishing” are when criminals use fraudulent emails, text messages, QR codes, or phone calls to trick victims.
Whether it’s an email asking you to “verify” your bank account details or a text message claiming you’ve missed a delivery and need to pay a redelivery fee, the goal is usually the same: to trick you into revealing personal or financial information.
In 2023, a London doctor lost over £150 due to a fake email purporting to be from the TV Licensing Authority, which said her TV license needed to be renewed as soon as possible. The phishing email was believable because the victim’s TV license had recently expired and the link in the email led to a fake TV Licensing Authority website that mimicked the real one.
How can I protect myself?
Fake emails and text messages can be hard to spot because criminals are constantly creating messages that look real.
Here are some practical tips to follow when dealing with phishing:
- If you have any questions about a message, please contact the organization directly using the contact information on their official website.
-
- Do not use phone numbers or web addresses in your message. Banks and other official sources will never ask you to provide confidential information via email.
- Have you received a suspicious email? Don’t! Report the suspicious email by forwarding it to: [email protected]If you’re not sure if it’s a scam, send any email you suspect to this address and it will be checked.
- Always report suspicious text messages or scam phone numbers to 7726 for free so your provider can identify where the text is coming from and block or ban the sender.
-
- To report a scam text, forward it to 7726 and provide the sender’s number when prompted.
- To report a scam call, simply text the word “Call” followed by the scam caller’s phone number to 7726.
- If you have lost money or provided financial information as a result of a phishing scam, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. In Scotland call Police Scotland on 101.