Phishing / scam emails

TIP: If you receive an email asking for your log on details, please don’t reply as it will be fraudulent but forward it to  security@hbosplc.com so we can investigate.

If you use email chances are at some point you will get a scam email in your inbox. We’ve outlined some simple ways you can spot these fakes, delete them and protect against getting more. Sometimes scam emails are called ‘phishing’ emails because they are fishing for your personal information.

Our genuine email communication
Remember we will never send you an email asking you to verify your secure online banking details.  Any email asking you to 'verify your account', 'confirm your sign in details', or using a similar form of words, is certainly a scam.

Genuine emails from us may contain links to product information and application forms, but never to the online banking sign-in page.  If you are in any doubt about whether an email is genuine, don't click the link.

What is a scam email

•  Emails that ask you for personal information such as sign in details, or ask you to verify them, for example ‘you must verify your details or your account will be suspended’.
•  A scam email tries to get you to part with your personal information that could then be used for criminal purposes.

How to recognise a scam email
Look out for emails that ask you for personal information such as sign in details, or asking you to verify them, these could be phishing emails. We will never send emails that ask for confidential or personal security information.
Scam emails often give bogus virus warnings, offer a financial reward or appear in the form of chain letters.
Some scam emails play on emotions (give money to a terminally ill child) or make unverifiable claims (100s of people have already won).
Learn more with our phishing demo.

What to do if you receive a scam email
Always check where links are taking you before clicking them.  We will never send emails that ask for confidential or personal security information.

•  Delete the email from your computer
•  If you have anti-virus software on your computer - run it to check for infections
•  Do not click on any links included in the email
•  Check for examples of suspicious emails that are doing the rounds
•  Do not forward it on to friends
•  If you are worried that you may have received a scam email, send it to security@hbosplc.com then delete it.