When it comes to online payments, vigilance is an absolute must. Generally speaking, if a payment provider isn’t listed on the FCA register, it should be avoided. This register includes details of the legitimate websites and contact information for each provider, so you can compare these details with what you’ve been presented with to make sure they’re legit. Scammers regularly target users with phishing emails, fake links, and alarming messages designed to trick you into handing over your financial information.
Always check that what you’ve received is from a legitimate email address or registered number, keep an eye out for bad formatting, spelling mistakes, and low-quality images, and never click a link on an email until you know it’s safe. If in doubt, get in touch with the customer support team of the institution in question using details from their website, and they’ll be able to help.