Don't press the button... Stop and think!

Stop and think before you risk giving out any login details or you may unwittingly fall victim to hackers who are currently highly active in Jersey.

Small and medium businesses you need to be on your guard. The Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner advises the following:

BE VIGILANT.

● If a familiar company sends you an email directing you to click a link or attachment to verify your email login details including password, stop, think and telephone the sender to verify the email. ONLY USE contact details you have and not those listed on the phishing email.

WARN all of your staff about the risk of phishing emails.

REPORT the attack to the police or forward it to scams500@police.je

DO NOT share your passwords under any circumstances.

● If you believe PERSONAL INFORMATION has been lost, compromised, accessed without your knowledge or need further guidance, contact our office on 01534 716530.

The Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner has seen a sharp rise in the number of phishing email scams reported to their office over the last few days and wants to warn Islanders that if they mistakenly provide their email details hackers will have full access to their email system.

Adrian Hayes, Compliance and Enforcement Manager at the Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner, said: “It is important business owners in the Island, especially the smaller businesses, are aware that even though an email is addressed to them, it does not mean it is legitimate. We would advise anyone never to share a password."

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a cybercrime in which a target or targets are contacted by email, telephone or text message by someone posing as a legitimate institution to lure individuals into providing sensitive data such as personally identifiable information, banking and credit card details and passwords.