Warning over email scam using fake Manx Telecom bills

The government body said it was also aware of dozens of “account compromises” of of addresses on the platform, which was a type of attack where unauthorised access to an email account was gained.

This had led to a loss of access to various accounts, including social media, it confirmed.

A spokesman for the centre said the emails had ranged “in design and wording” but “primarily featured a Manx Telecom or Manx.net logo”.

He said they would then ask the recipient to “take urgent action”, such as updating account details “using classic social-engineering tactics” asking victims to “take actions they would not normally do”, such as sharing email addresses and passwords, he said.

Once this information had been passed on, the scammer could then send emails posing as the victim and use the account for other illegal activity, he said.

Issuing advice to help people “avoid becoming a victim”, he urged residents not to click links that do not appear to be genuine and not to be pressured by any time-sensitive requests.