Phishing emails are messages designed to look like they come from a trusted organisation, including ScottishFibre, but are actually sent by criminals trying to trick you into clicking a link, sharing personal information, or making a payment. Knowing the signs can help you avoid falling for one.
Common signs of a phishing email
Urgency or pressure: phrases like "your account will be closed in 24 hours", "act now", or "immediate action required" are designed to make you panic and click without thinking.
A generic greeting: emails from genuine companies usually address you by name. "Dear Customer" or "Dear Sir/Madam" can be a red flag.
An unexpected request: being asked for your password, full bank details, or one-time security codes, especially out of the blue.
A suspicious link: hover over any links (without clicking) to see the real address. If it doesn't match the company's actual website, don't click it.
A slightly off email address: scammers often use addresses that look almost right but aren't, for example "scottishfibre-billing.com" instead of "scottishfibre.com".
Spelling and grammar mistakes: phishing emails are getting more sophisticated, but typos and awkward phrasing are still common.
Unexpected attachments: never open an attachment you weren't expecting, especially Word documents, PDFs, or .zip files.
What ScottishFibre will and will not do
We will never:
Ask for your full password by email, phone, or text
Ask you to make a payment to a personal bank account, by gift card, or via cryptocurrency
Pressure you to act urgently or threaten immediate disconnection without prior written notice
Ask you to install remote access software unless you've specifically requested support
If you receive a suspicious email
Don't click any links, open any attachments, or reply to the message.
Forward it to [email protected] as an attachment, so we can investigate.
Forward it to the National Cyber Security Centre's Suspicious Email Reporting Service at [email protected].
Delete the message from your inbox.
If you've already clicked or shared information
Don't panic. Take these steps straight away:
Change your ScottishFibre password and any other accounts using the same password
Contact your bank if you've shared payment details
In Scotland, report it to Police Scotland on 101
Elsewhere in the UK, report it to Report Fraud at www.reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040
Let us know at [email protected] so we can monitor your account for unusual activity
Still need help? Report suspicious emails to [email protected].