Fear is a very powerful force, and fear of the unknown is even stronger. Can there be anything more bewildering – and unexpected – than finding out that you have broken some law when you have no idea of what or where that might have been?
And of course, the more of a law-abiding citizen you are, the worse it is! Few people would ever need to have contact with the Police, something which scammers are well aware of.
This is why there are now fraudsters who impersonate the Police and call people directly, often on their mobile phones, when they least expect it. What they are after is your money, and they prey on your fear and embarrassment by trying to get you to pay on the spot fines by using online payments.
If this happens to you, stop and give yourself time to think! No legitimate authority or organisation will call you on your phone and ask you to make payments online.
Scammers often pressure you to take urgent action, warning of dire consequences, but what they are trying to do is to make you act before you have had time to realise that the call might not be genuine at all.
Even when the Police actually need to get in touch with you, you would be asked to visit the nearest Police station rather than being asked to make a payment online.
What can you do if you receive a call that you suspect is a scam? First of all, hang up immediately without giving them any information, and – if you have any doubts – call the official police number 21224001to verify whether it was a genuine call.
You can also report the incident to the Police via their website pulizija.gov.mt.
This article is part of a cyber awareness campaign delivered by MITA, in collaboration with MITA-NCC and the Malta Police Force. The campaign aims to raise awareness about digital security and you should come across short clips on national television that place audiences in realistic, everyday scenarios where online safety may be at risk.
Over the coming months, look out for more campaigns linked under the slogan, “Int Importanti”. They all emphasise the importance of staying safe online and how we can look out for one another to help make the internet a safer place. The advice is always to be on your guard, to think before you act, and to approach each scenario with a healthy dose of scepticism.