A text says you have an unpaid toll. An email asks you to update your account. Someone calls claiming to be from your bank. How can you tell what is genuine and what might be a scam? In this practical, beginner-friendly workshop, learn how to recognise common warning signs in suspicious texts, emails, phone calls, websites and online messages. Using realistic examples, you will practise what to look for before clicking a link, replying, providing information or making a payment. You will also learn simple ways to check whether a message or request is genuine, what to do when you are unsure, and what steps to take if you think you may have responded to a scam.

Bring your phone, tablet or laptop if you would like to practise on your own device.

DELIVERY MODE

Face to face

COURSE OUTLINE

• Understanding how modern scams try to gain our trust
• Common scams received by text, email, phone and online
• Common warning signs
• What to check before entering personal or payment information
• Simple ways to verify whether a message, call or website is genuine
• Blocking and reporting suspicious messages
• What to do if you have already clicked a suspicious link or provided information
• Practical exercises using realistic scam examples

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Recognise common types of scams received by text, email, phone and online
• Recognise tactics such as urgency, fear, impersonation and requests for payment or personal information
• Examine links, messages and websites more carefully before taking action
• Use simple methods to independently verify suspicious requests
• Take appropriate steps after receiving a suspected scam
• Know what immediate actions to consider if they have already interacted with a suspected scam
• Approach unexpected digital messages with greater confidence and caution