Spot email scams
Discover how to spot email scams and take steps to avoid them.
Introduction to 'Spot email scams'
Would you spot a scam email? When work gets busy, it's easy to miss this kind of thing. But checking closely can help keep your business's money and data safe.
In this lesson, you can safely look at a scam email and test what you might do.
Key points from the video
Remember:
- Always check invoice details before you pay – do the payee name and bank details match your records for that supplier?
- Had an email that gives new or different payment or contact details? Call them on a number you trust, to check it's really them.
- Not sure about an email? Don’t reply or click any links – just delete it.
If you think you've been scammed
The first thing to do is contact Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/
If you're in Scotland, you can contact Police Scotland on 101.
Once you've done that, you should try to take steps to stop further damage. If the scam affects your bank account, you should contact your bank. If you think someone has one of your passwords, take action to change your passwords.
Want to learn more?
Operations
Keep safe at work
Bank of Scotland Academy is committed to providing information in a way that is accessible and useful for our users. This information, however, is not in any way intended to amount to authority or advice on which reliance should be placed. You should seek professional advice as appropriate and required. Any sites, products or services named in this module are just examples of what's available. Bank of Scotland does not endorse the services they provide. The information in this module was last updated on 5th January 2026.