Phishing is an illegal activity that occurs when online criminals (phishers) pretend to be legitimate organisations, like banks and credit card companies, in order to trick you into giving them your personal details.

Phishers usually send you an email in which they'll often ask you to 'verify' or 're-submit' personal information by return.

They may ask you to complete an online form and may offer you something attractive like money or a holiday if you do so.

Be alert for anyone looking for your bank account details, credit card numbers, passwords, PIN numbers, your Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) or National Insurance Number.

Phishers can use this information to impersonate you and make unauthorised withdrawals from your bank account and use it to pay for online purchases. They can even sell on this valuable information to third parties.