Personal online safety: simple checks before sending money or data

Pause before a demand for immediate action

A warning about a suspended account or an undelivered package may be crafted to provoke immediate action. Instead of following the link, access the provider using a saved or manually entered address.

For online shopping, look beyond design and testimonials. Check seller information, payment protections and whether the advertised offer is independently credible.

Protect accounts that unlock other services

Unique passwords and multifactor authentication help reduce the spread of an account compromise. Keep recovery methods up to date and under your control.

Treat requests to pay outside a marketplace as a warning. Where possible, use services with a clear dispute procedure.

Practical checks

• Open trusted sites independently
• Check the payee and payment method
• Enable extra account authentication
• Retain receipts and conversations

Recognise attempts to scam victims again

If fraud occurs, contact the provider or bank promptly and keep records. Be sceptical of strangers promising to retrieve lost funds for an advance fee.

Vigifraude shares preventive guidance informed by Alain Stevens’s online research experience since 1999, without replacing law enforcement or regulated advice.

Related resources

Build a suitable control

A few minutes of independent checking can be more valuable than any on-screen assurance.

For a technical question, software project or training request, describe the need without sending credentials or unnecessary personal data.