How to protect yourself

Pointers to protect your identity and keep your account safe.

We’ll always make sure that the safety and security of you and your accounts are a priority for us. There are things that you can and should also do. Learn how you can protect your account, your identity, and what you should keep a look out for.

Protecting your accounts

There are simple steps you can take to help make sure your AJ Bell account is safe.

• Use anti-virus software

  There are lots of anti-virus software packages you can use to protect your device against viruses and spyware. Make sure you run virus detection routines regularly and keep your software upgraded so you are protected against the latest electronic bugs. You should also keep your internet browser software up to date.

• Keep your password safe

  Never tell anyone your full password or other security details. We’ll never ask you for your full password so be on your guard if someone requests this. Your security details should not be written down but if you do want to record them, don’t keep them together and keep them somewhere safe. If you think your password and security information has been compromised, then let us know. And make sure you use passwords that aren’t easy to guess and don’t use the same password for everything.

• Use secure connections

  Be careful if you are using a wireless network as it may not be secure. Fraudsters may be able to access information being sent over non secure networks, such as those in coffee shops or on trains.

• Keep personal and valuable documents in a safe place

  Preferably locked away. And be careful when you throw away letters and documents which have your name and address on and other financial information. It’s better to shred these so they don’t fall into the wrong hands.

• Check your bank and credit card statements

  Make sure all the entries are correct and follow up on any entries that are unknown.

• Be aware

  Stay informed of the latest security threats – these are usually reported in the papers or online – and consider if they could apply to you and how to guard against them. You can find the latest information on the FCA website.

Protecting your identity

Identity theft involves a fraudster taking and using your personal information without your knowledge, which is a growing issue in the UK.

If you’re a victim of identity theft, you can suffer considerable financial losses, be denied access to credit and other services, and spend a large amount of time sorting out the financial mess. Here’s how you can combat it.

• Be wary of requests for information

  We'll never call you and ask you to provide your username, password or one-time passcode. We’ll always use our standard email addresses to send you information or send you a secure message through your account.

• Send sensitive information by secure message

  Email is not a secure form of communication. Any sensitive information relating to your account should be sent via secure message from within your account.

• Keep personal identification documents safe

  If you lose something like a passport, driver's license or identity card, report it straight away.

• Keep your details up to date

  Make sure that we have your up-to-date address, email address and contact numbers. You can update these online by logging into your account. If you move home, make sure you have a mail redirect in place to your new address.

• Regularly check your credit rating

  This will show any changes in activity, including applications for new financial products.

Protecting your email account

‘Phishing’ or bogus emails are used by fraudsters to trick you into divulging information about your account or even paying them money. In the UK, an average of 8,000 phishing scams are reported a month. We’d suggest following the below rules for maximum email security.

• Wipe your data

  If you throw away a computer or mobile phone, make sure it has no data on it or logged-in accounts that someone could access.

• Look out for tell-tale signs of phishing

  The email might appear to come from a bank or financial institution, a company you regularly do business with or even from your social networking site. They may request personal financial information and use sensational language asking for immediate action. But banks and financial institutions will never ask their customers for account details or passwords by email.

• Check email addresses thoroughly

  Make sure the email address matches the domain of the company. For example, it comes from an address ending @ajbell.co.uk.

• Be wary of attachments and links

  Attachments such as a Word document can be used to deliver malware onto your system, and unusual file extensions such as .exe should raise your suspicions. They might include links to specially created websites where you are asked to enter personal information, called spoofed websites. These may look very professional and, in some cases, exactly the same as a legitimate company.

• Check the language used

  Often, phishing emails will use generic greetings and may contain misspellings or grammatical errors, although not always. It’s highly unlikely that an email from a well-known company will contain spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.

How to spot if you’re a victim

What should you do next?