Phishing: Home Instead Wimbledon & Kingston's guide to staying safe

What is ‘Phishing’?

‘Phishing’ is a term which describes a malicious scam which targets anyone, whether an individual or a business, usually to divulge private information or money from them. They can take various forms, either through phone calls, text messages or emails. According to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), there were over 46 million reported accounts of phishing by September 2025, making it apparent that this form of scam is still at large. With recent developments in Artificial Intelligence, phishing attacks have become increasingly sophisticated and convincing, making it even more important to stay vigilant online.

How can you identify a phishing scam?

Who is contacting you? The first step to identifying a phishing scam is to look at the sender or caller. Is the number saved in your contacts? With modern Caller ID, even unknown numbers can be identified if they’re from a legitimate source, but stay cautious, as scammers can spoof numbers to make them seem genuine. For emails, look at the sender; spam emails often come from odd-looking emails filled with typos or random numbers.

Our Care Professionals can help clients check these, teaching them how to spot these suspicious telltale signs.

What are they asking? The biggest giveaway for phishing scams is what they are asking from you. Clients are guided to pause and think whenever anyone asks for their private information, bank details or for them to transfer money, as this usually indicates a scam.

If unsure, check: By searching the phone number on Google, it will reveal if it’s linked to a company or even logged on a spam call reporting site. Oftentimes, this is the easiest way to determine if a communication is spam, and if not, you can always ask someone you trust! Having someone to talk through concerns with, such as a family member, friend, or one of our Care Professionals, can make all the difference in these situations, and they can even spot things you may have missed.

Try not to give out data: A big cause of spam emails and phone calls or emails is providing your data when signing up for things online. We educate our clients to always consider why someone is asking for data before giving it out.

If it seems too good to be true, it often is! Care Professionals guide clients in spotting offers or requests that are unrealistic, helping them avoid scams without feeling anxious or pressured.

A Common Scam: “Hey Mum, I’ve lost my phone…”

One particularly concerning phishing tactic our Care Professionals have noticed involves messages or calls from someone claiming to be a loved one who has lost their phone and needs money. This scam preys on your care and trust, hoping you will send money quickly without verifying the person.

We always advise clients to take messages like this with a grain of salt, pause, and verify the situation before taking any action. Whether this involves calling the loved one directly on a known number, speaking with a family member or asking their Care Professional. By encouraging clients to double-check and involve someone they trust, we help prevent them from falling victim to common phishing scams like this.