Has swipe to unlock on your tablet or phone stopped working? Do you have green squares appearing and a voice? Maybe you pressed and held down the volume button by mistake instead of switching on. This has activated TalkBack mode. In theory pressing down the volume up/down buttons together for 3 seconds should turn it off again but if this does work then it becomes more difficult. Another way is to say “Hey Google”, then say “Turn off TalkBack”.
If this does not work then you will need to navigate to the TalkBack option in settings, accessibility but to navigate there with TalkBack switched on can be tricky. You will need to double tap within the green box to unlock the screen and navigate to settings. Use two fingers to drag the green box to accessibility, double tap it then navigate using 2 finger drag to talkback. In talkback you can double tap on the “on” button to switch it off.
The concept of The Cloud is that instead of storing all of your data and computing power locally, you can outsource it to managed cloud service providers. You can run applications, save data, send email, and more using computing power that isn’t stored locally. For example, you may be running short on space on your computer or phone to store photos and large documents. The other benefit is that if your computer or phone is lost or destroyed somehow then everything will be saved and retrievable. Some cloud providers will give you free storage up to a certain limit.
Provided by Microsoft as part of Windows, 5GB provided free, very easy to sync files across different devices
A basic account provides 2GB storage, its easy to share files with others
Google Drive has strong file sharing capabilities, and more free storage space than most competitors—15GB, though that space is shared with Gmail
Apple’s service for providing cloud storage. Stored files can be hared with Apple devices
Prime members get 5GB of storage for “free” with Amazon Cloud Drive for file storage
Impersonation scams happen when a fraudster contacts you pretending to be from your bank, the police, or another trusted organisation to convince you to send them money.
They’ll create a sense of urgency, a reason to panic to stop you from thinking straight. They may tell you that you’ve been a victim of an attempted fraud or had an overpayment that needs to be returned. They may even give you details of a false spend on your account which you don’t recognise, or that your account is no longer secure and that you need to take urgent action. They’ll insist that, in order to keep your money safe or prevent further losses, you need to move your money to a ‘safe’ or newly opened account.
Many fraudsters use something called ‘spoofing’. This is where someone deliberately falsifies how their contact number appears on the caller ID, messenger name, or email address to disguise their identity and try to convince you that they’re someone else.
Common impersonation scams
Fraudsters will use a variety of methods to contact you, so always be cautious and check that the request is genuine. See below for some examples of impersonation methods.
Telephone, text, or email
This is when someone contacts you claiming to be someone they’re not, for example your bank, Amazon, HMRC, a parcel company, or even the police. Fraudsters want you to act urgently and try to pressure you into clicking a link, revealing your security details, or to transfer or withdraw your money.
Social media
Fraudsters send messages or make contact through messaging services like WhatsApp, direct messages, Facebook and any social media platform. They may pretend to be a friend or loved one in need of help.
Online banking is becoming a necessity, with benefits such as keeping control of your finances from home or on holiday via a website or app.
If that’s not liberating enough, you can transfer money between accounts, send money to people you know, and set up or cancel direct debits and standing orders – all without visiting a branch.
Most banks give lessons to help, while Age UK has terrific advice on its website and offers computer classes. Here are a few of our essential tips:
Do set up your online banking carefully, download the correct app and follow your bank’s instructions to the letter.
Don’t share those details with anyone unless it’s an emergency or you completely trust them, such as a next of kin.
Do take some time to play with the app’s features and familiarise yourself with the layout.
Don’t mistake online banking for being unsafe. Most have the highest levels of digital security and log you out automatically after use.
Do look for ‘HTTPS’ before the website name in the address bar of your web browser. The ‘S’ stands for secure and means it is protected.
Don’t reuse the same passwords for different accounts.
Do be cautious with public computers. The one in your local library might not be secure, so check with staff.
Don’t share passwords or PIN numbers. Banks will never ask you for these in full. If they do, it’s fraudulent.
Do view your balance frequently to check for irregularities and raise any concerns immediately.
WhatsApp is a free to download messenger app for smartphones. WhatsApp uses the internet to send messages, images, audio or video. The service is very similar to text messaging services, however, because WhatsApp uses the internet to send messages, the cost of using WhatsApp is significantly less than texting. You can also use Whatsapp on your desktop, simply go to the Whatsapp website and download it to Mac or Windows.
To download WhatsApp on an Android phone
Go to the Google Play Store. If you have not used this before you will be prompted to log in with or register for a google account then search for WhatsApp. Tap INSTALL and wait for it to download.
Once downloaded and installed then open WhatsApp and continue to the next screen by agreeing to the Terms of Service.
Type in your phone number.
Enter your name. You can also change this later in WhatsApp by tapping More options > Settings, and tapping on your profile name.
To download WhatsApp on an iPhone
Find WhatsApp Messenger in the Apple App Store, then tap GET.
Open WhatsApp and continue to the next screen by agreeing to the Terms of Service.
Type in your phone number.
Enter your name.
Other WhatsApp tips
I’m often asked how to delete contacts from WhatsApp, this is much easier on an iPhone than an Android phone.
On an iPhone
Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab and search for or select the contact you’d like to delete. Tap the contact’s name at the top.
Tap Edit > scroll to the bottom and tap Delete Contact.
On an Android phone
Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab.
Search for or select the contact you’d like to delete. Tap the contact’s name at the top. Tap the three dots on the top right for more options. Tap View contact. Tap the three tops at top right for more options
Tao > View in address book > now tap the three dots on the bottom right for More options
Now you get the option > Delete.
How to set up a Whatsapp group
From the Whatsapp chat screen click on the 3 dots at the top right and you should get the option ‘New group’. Select this then you should get a screen asking you to select participants. Click on the name of each participant then click the green arrow at the bottom to add them to the group. If no participants are shown you can select them from your contact list on your phone. Once the group members have been selected you will be given the option to create a name for the group.
How to link another device (Android)
On the new device install Whatsapp then tap AGREE AND CONTINUE
Then tap the three dots and ‘link as a companion device’
You’ll now see a QR code to be scanned by your primary device.
Now open WhatsApp on your primary device.
Tap the three dots and ‘linked devices’ then ‘link a device’
now scan the QR code on the new device using the existing device.
Backing up chats
It may be a good idea to back up your Whatsapp chats in case of a lost or broken phone. From your chats screen go to settings (3 dots at top right) then click on chats and scroll down to chat backup. From here you can set backup on and set the frequency.
BT scam emails are attempting to capture your card details. Here are the common phishing tactics you need to watch out for.
An increase in the number of BT scam emails purporting to be from BT has led to a warning from Action Fraud. Have you received one of the fakes?
Last month Action Fraud stated that it had received 676 reports in just two weeks regarding the latest scam emails pretending to be from BT.
Like with most phishing emails, the scammers’ goal is to get you to follow a link to a phishing website that will then attempt to steal your bank/card details.
WHAT DO THE SCAM BT EMAILS LOOK LIKE?
In these cases, the scammers are relying on their fake emails to find their way to genuine BT customers. They state that ‘your monthly bill is ready’ and instruct the recipient to ‘pay’ that bill by clicking through to a fake website.
The emails and the website have nothing to do with BT. If you enter your card details on these sites to ‘pay’ a bill then you will have given your information directly to fraudsters.
While many fake emails rely on a sense of urgency or panic, the tactics behind this email are entirely based on appearing genuine. If you’re expecting a bill from BT then the straightforward nature of the email’s request may be enough to catch you off guard.
HOW CAN I SPOT A FAKE BT EMAIL?
If you are a BT customer and you’ve received an email out of the blue requesting payment do not interact with it. BT states that it will never ask customers for private/personal details or banking information out of the blue.
Rather than follow links in emails claiming to be from BT, instead, log in to your BT account via its official site. Do this entirely separately from the email and be sure you’re not following any links.
If you remain unsure whether you have a bill to pay or you think there may be issues with your account then contact BT directly to check.
I THINK I’VE BEEN SCAMMED BY A FAKE BT EMAIL: WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If you think you may have entered sensitive information, such as your bank/card details, into a third-party site you were taken to by a suspicious BT email, you must let your bank know what’s happened via its official channels ASAP.
You can report a scam and get your money back. Your bank should work with you to cancel your card, block any pending payments (if required) and refund the money you’ve lost.
You should also then keep an eye out for any follow-up scams that could occur if you’ve given contact details, such as your email address, postal address or phone number away to fraudsters. Treat any contact you receive out of the blue with caution.
HOW CAN I REPORT BT SCAM EMAILS?
Emails that impersonate BT can be forwarded directly to the brand on phishing@bt.com(opens in new tab)
Fake emails and phishing websites can also be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre at report@phishing.gov.uk(opens in new tab) – action can then be taken to remove these websites.
If you’re going to warn friends and family about a scam, send them a screenshot instead of forwarding suspicious emails directly.
BT customers can also go to www.bt.com/scams(opens in new tab) to get advice on how to spot and handle a scam call, email or text.
Technology is all around us. There is no escaping it these days. But the longer you avoid it, the worse your apprehensions will get. In my experience of working with people and techie things, I’ve found that fear of looking or feeling stupid is the main issue. People at a certain age begin to believe they are “dumb about technology” because they didn’t learn about it in school.
Let’s start with this supposition: nothing about using a phone, working on a computer, or a tablet is intuitive. Therefore, you need to learn basic skills to establish a foundation to use technology.
Trying something new is definitely scary. But, if you can release your fear, believe that we all start with zero knowledge, and build on that, you will develop the confidence needed to get through the bumps.
Here are some tips to help you start to feel comfortable with technology.
Start Small
You don’t need to learn everything at once. You can’t. Be patient with yourself. Break it down and focus on one thing at a time to help you gain confidence and make the world of technology feel more manageable.
Concentrate on one aspect of your phone, such as texting, that you need to use every day. Nowadays, if you don’t know how to text, you’ll be the odd person out of fun and frequent “chats” between friends and family. Once you accomplish that, pick the next app or most-used feature, like the phone app.
Frequently, the features you use the most, but don’t understand, cause frustration and resistance because that’s when you feel “dumb.” Stop the negative self-talk: “I can’t use this phone.” Instead, try, “I really need to learn how to use [insert feature of choice] so I can stop having these issues.”
Pick one new social media or online platform that interests you, like YouTube. YouTube is a great place to start with learning because you can get tutorials about anything you need once you are skilled in using it.
Focus on Fun
Start with things you are interested in. For example, if you are a movie buff, focus on using Netflix. If you love photography, put your efforts into learning how to use your phone’s camera. Directing your energy into things that are fun will make the learning process feel less like a chore.
Ask for Help
Remember, not everyone has the patience to teach you. Find a reliable family member or friend who will take the time to answer a specific question. Just 10 minutes of their time can alleviate a lot of frustration.
One of the keys to seeking help is to make sure you have a specific set of questions or problems. Don’t approach your loved one and say, “I need you to teach me how to use the computer.” It will be less daunting for you and your person of choice if you say, “I don’t understand folders and documents. Do you have time to show me a few things?”
If you don’t feel comfortable asking someone you know, find an expert in your area or virtually. Senior Centers, extension classes, local community centers are all good resources for learning. Many such places offer ongoing classes you can take or a once-a-month help session, one-to-one, for specific issues you are dealing with.
Trust Your Gut
Don’t be afraid to play around and learn as you go. You won’t break anything by touching an icon you are unfamiliar with. On the other hand, once you get over the mental block of thinking you don’t understand, you might be surprised by how much you can figure out on your own by just touching or clicking.
I often encourage my clients to “put their baby on.” Think about the two-year-old that grabs the parent’s phone and begins to tap and touch and take pics. They aren’t scared. They don’t have the verbal understanding we have, life experiences, or reasoning levels we do. But they aren’t afraid.
They react to the pictures, colors, icons, and cues given on the phone by touching, not freezing, or staring. They aren’t waiting for words to guide them.
Educate Yourself
Be proactive with reading booklets, articles, newsletters, or blogs. Watch video tutorials. Google your question. There is so much free content on the internet that spans all levels of knowledge. You also may want to consider paying for help. Buying lessons or enrolling in an actual class will pay dividends in the future.
Technology isn’t going anywhere. Giving in to your fears is going to put you in a deeper hole. Everything from your car, your oven, your phone is becoming a smart device. Being open to learning is the first step to getting comfortable with technology and using it in everyday life.
What is your biggest fear with technology? Have you overcome your fear? Do you have any tips to share on what worked for you?
HSBC UK has revealed the three most common types of scams it’s seen reported by its customers. We explain what they look like and how you can avoid them.
Scammers stole more than £1.3bn from people in the UK in 2021 amid surge in online fraud, new data shows according to the research from the banking industry organisation UK Finance.
Here, we look at some of the most common scams right now and tell you how to avoid them.
COMMON ONLINE SHOPPING SCAMS
The most common scams of all is a purchase scam, HSBC UK has found. When you are tricked into paying for non-existent or dodgy goods and services in advance.
Alarmingly, there’s been a spate of scammers falsely advertised vehicles online more and more, which is costing victims thousands of pounds.
A 30 year-old from Newcastle, fell victim to a purchasing scam. He was looking for a cheap run-around after his old car failed its MOT.
He found a Renault Clio on Gumtree which seemed to be in good condition, but then Craig learned the car’s history after buying it.
It turned out that the car had been written off as a Category C insurance write-off. Craig only found out about this when he hired a hire purchase investigation check which confirmed the vehicle was a write off. He lost £1,652 in total.
HOW TO AVOID A PURCHASE SCAM WITH VEHICLES
Always try to see the car in person rather than trusting an online source such as Gumtree or eBay
The car history checker online on the government website is always useful to find out if the vehicle has ever been written off and its insurance history
Consider how old the car is and the mileage. It should give you an idea of how much that car should cost, if it’s suspiciously cheap or over priced, move on
COMMON IMPERSONATION SCAMS
This type of scam is easy to fall victim to, when someone impersonates an organisation such as a retailer or bank.
Many of us are familiar with impersonation scams. Fraudsters pretending to be Royal Mail or the Post Office over text messages are common, and HSBC UK is now seeing a rise in calls from people claiming to be Amazon.
They have also seen an increase in fraudsters impersonating the HSBC UK fraud team, where they may tell you your account is at risk.
When the scammer tells you to move money into a ‘safe account’, this is a red flag.
David Callington, HSBC UK’s head of fraud, said: “HSBC UK will never ask you to move money to a safe account or disclose your one time passcode. Likewise we would never ask you to delete your mobile banking app. If someone asks you to do any of these things, hang up right away, it’s a scam.”
HOW TO AVOID AN IMPERSONATION SCAM
If you’re contacted unexpectedly, it’s important you’re sure it’s legitimate. Contact the firm claiming to have contacted you to verify it’s real claims to have sent it to check.
Use the official contact details listed on the company’s website or documents you might have been sent, if it’s your bank then you can usually find its official number on the back of your credit or debit card.
WHAT IS AN INVESTMENT SCAM?
With an average loss per case of £14,173, investment scammers are amongst the most devastating.
The Money Edit’s editor, Kalpana Fitzpatrick, says: “Investment scams can be difficult to spot and can appear legitimate, but often they are run from what’s known as boiler rooms, trying to get people to part with large sums of money to ‘invest’ on something that does not exist or is worthless.
“The key thing to remember is to be wary of anyone that is promising you a big payout, and alarm bells should also ring if you are put into a situation where you are pressured into making an on-the-spot decision”, she adds
These scams incur the biggest losses according to Callington: “An investment scam usually looks like this: you receive a random call or message regarding an investment that ‘you can’t miss’.
The scammer then keeps contact with you over a period of months, even years to get as much money out of you as they can.
“With the cost of living sky-high, it’s no surprise people are lured in by schemes promising low risk for high returns. The general rule is that if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is,” Callington added.
HOW TO AVOID AN INVESTMENT SCAM
As The Money Edit’s Fitzpatrick advises: “Before you part with any cash, always check the FCA’s (Financial Conduct Authority) warning list for known scams to see what investments are regulated and to check for known scams.”
Reject random calls or unexpected offers. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
HELPFUL TOOLS TO HELP YOU STAY SAFE
As scams are rising, so are online tools to help you. At The Money Edit we recommend using Check a Website to check if a site is genuine.
Scammers use whatever means they can to try and get sensitive data from you. They can fake their phone numbers, pretending to be a trustworthy person from a well-known company, and even create official-looking social media accounts. They’ll often seem friendly, polite and professional, but as soon as they put you under pressure and ask you to act immediately – be suspicious.
Calls, emails and texts
In doubt whether a call’s genuine or not? It’s best to hang up.
Social Media
This is the latest way scammers will try to get you. If you’re contacted by an official-looking account asking you to click a link or for personal information, stop and think. If it’s Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, is the account verified? Is the company name spelt correctly in its username? Does its follower count seem likely for a major brand? All of these things can help you suss out a fraudulent account.
Worried you could’ve been scammed?
If you ever think you’ve been the victim of fraud – whether you’ve given your details over the phone or clicked a dodgy link in a text or email and shared sensitive info – don’t panic. Here are some things you can do:
Get in touch with your bank if you think you might have given out any financial info – they’ll try to recover any money you’ve lost
Change your account password(s)
Call 159 to chat to most UK banks confidentially if you’re concerned you’ve provided your contact details to a scammer
Ring Action Fraud (the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime) on 0300 123 2040 or use their online reporting tool at reporting.actionfraud.police.uk/reporting
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