Spot it, stop it — help prevent online scams

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If something online feels off, do not talk yourself out of that feeling. A lot of fraud still works because people stay polite and quiet — in the office as much as at home.

Payment pages that do not look like themselves

Check the address bar. Look for https and a domain that matches the company you think you are paying. Be wary of pages that ask for a card PIN, “verification photos,” or extra personal details a normal checkout never needs. Logos that look stretched or slightly wrong are a clue, not a quirk.

Messages that want speed and secrecy

“Do not tell anyone” and “do this in the next ten minutes” are not how banks and suppliers usually talk. Call them on a number you already have — not the number in the message.

Stop! Pause! Is it urgent? Do you know who it is from? Is it really from who it says it is? If not sure or no — do not pay, do not click. Verify first.

Say something

If you nearly fell for it, tell the person next to you. If a colleague almost paid a fake invoice, say it in the group chat. Scams spread through silence as much as through software.

A self-check

Before you enter card details next time: did you type the address yourself, does the page look normal for that firm, and would you be happy showing the screen to someone you trust? If any answer is no — stop.