Keeping your information safe and secure
At OVO, we do as much as we can to protect your data. That said, there are a few extra steps you should take to make sure you look after your personal information and stay safe online.
Beware of discounts and time pressures
Online payments are becoming faster and easier, and scammers are taking advantage of it. For example, they might link you to a fake OVO website or app to trick you into entering your personal information. Watch out for anyone asking you to send money, share bank details, or enter passwords. If you’re being told to act fast, take a moment to ask yourself some questions:
Are you being asked to pay or share details within a very short time frame?
Do you feel pressured to act before you can think it through?
Pause, think, and give us a call on 0330 303 5063 if you’re suspicious about who’s getting in touch. We’re here to help.
Check whether an email or phone call is really from us
When it comes to unlocking our special offers, remember we’ll never pressure you to give us sensitive information, like your bank details, over the phone or by email. We’re always happy for you to call to check that it’s definitely us. We’ll be able to tell you whether the information is real or fake.
Scammers can also fake official phone numbers to make it look like they’re calling from OVO. If someone’s pressuring you to share personal information, or you’re at all suspicious, hang up. Then call us on 0330 303 5063 (if you pay monthly) and 0330 175 9669 (if you’re on Pay As You Go). When you dial the number yourself, you can be sure you’re talking to us.
Install 2-factor authentication on your email and social media
Stealing passwords is easier than you might think. If you’ve used an email and password on a website that’s been hacked, scammers can then try those same combinations on other sites.
As well as making a new password for every new website you create an account with, it’s a good idea to turn on 2-factor authentication. This means every time you log in on a new device, you’ll have to prove it’s really you before the website will let you in. This might be a code sent to your mobile number, or another email address. All major email providers and almost every social media platform will offer it in their settings menu.
Protect your bills and statements
Your energy bills and bank statements usually include your personal information. If they fall into the wrong hands, scammers could use this to get into your online accounts. They could even open bank and credit card accounts, or apply for loans in your name.
Always shred paper bills and statements before you throw them away. And if you use a computer that other people can access, remember to delete any PDF bills you've downloaded before you log out.
Stay up to date with the latest cyber security tips
The National Cyber Security Centre has some great advice for staying safe online. Its website has tips on using strong passwords, keeping your software up to date, and backing up your data.
There’s no single solution that can protect any of us against a scam. But using these top tips will make you and your OVO account much harder to target.
