A fresh warning for the public to remain vigilant regarding online and phone scams has come from police.

Techniques evolve continually but many crooks use similar tricks aimed at persuading victims to give up “specific information or perform a specific action for illegitimate purposes”, police said.

Swindlers aim to project an “air of legitimacy”, with enticement and pressure to act quickly.

“Be extremely wary of any unexpected correspondence sent from official-looking e-mail addresses, offering cash or other prizes.

“Similarly, it is wise to be suspicious of any e-mail claiming that an online account will be locked/deleted, or has been compromised.”

Fraudsters will often text or call suddenly, masquerading as the representative of a local bank or the authorised agent of a well-known global company.

Con artists typically impose an unreasonably short deadline, making it more likely that victims will be duped into divulging personal information such as names, birth dates, banking details and login credentials.

Police listed a series of red flags that should arouse suspicion:

• Emphasis on the need to take action urgently

• Unexpected e-mails from unknown or random senders that require clicking on links or attachments

• Offers via call, text, e-mail or social media sounding too good to be true — especially those that require submitting personal information to claim

Police also gave practical tips to avoid falling afoul of scams:

• Do not install any software recommended by an unknown caller or e-mail sender

• Hang up on callers requesting personal information and either call the business to confirm if there is a problem, or contact the police for advice

• Where possible, use two-step verification for important online accounts

• Check bank accounts regularly for any unusual activity

• Do not click on links and attachments in e-mails from unknown senders

• Report any suspected fraud to the relevant bank and the police immediately

• Family members and friends are urged to update senior relatives with this information, as the elderly are often targeted by swindlers

Police reports of suspected fraud can be made by calling 211 or visiting the police community reporting portal online.