People across Gedling borough are being warned about a spate of scam emails landing in their inboxes falsely claiming to come from Asda.
In the past two weeks, Action Fraud has received 1,754 reports regarding the fraudulent emails.
These emails attempt to lure recipients by promising a free prize, which can be claimed by completing a survey.
This freebie on offer is a 36 piece Tupperware set which would normally cost several hundred pounds.
However, the links provided in these emails direct users to phishing websites designed to steal personal and financial information.
The rise in reports has prompted Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre, to issue a warning to the public.
A spokesperson for Action Fraud emphasised the importance of vigilance: “If you have doubts about a message, contact the organisation directly. Do not use the numbers or addresses provided in the message. Instead, use the contact details from their official website.”
To combat this growing threat, recipients of such suspicious emails are encouraged to forward them to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) at report@phishing.gov.uk.
Reporting these emails helps in the swift removal of malicious content and the shutdown of fraudulent websites.
The public is reminded that legitimate organisations, including banks and retailers like Asda, will never ask for personal information via email. Staying informed and cautious is essential in preventing cybercrime.
There’s also a particular three set of words to look out for to instantly spot these sorts of emails, and they are “you’ve been chosen” which normally appears at the top.
For more information on how to deal with suspicious messages, visit the Action Fraud website and follow their guidelines to protect yourself from phishing scams and other cyber threats.
