So, where do we come in?
We protect your details online
We take the security of your personal and financial details very seriously. Here's what we do and some tips on how you can stay safe when buying online.
Protecting your data with encryption
We encrypt (put into a secret code) all the information you send through our online 'quote and buy' applications to keep it safe.
We use what's called 128 bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption. This scrambles the information you enter to make sure that we're the only ones who can read it.
How you can spot a secure webpage
You'll see when you're in a secure part of our site, as the web address starts with https (the 's' stands for secure).
Some browsers also show a picture of a padlock in the address bar or near the bottom corner of your screen. If you double-click the padlock, you'll see the security certificate for that website.
Do you know about phishing emails?
Phishing is the practice of pretending to be from a reputable company and sending fraudulent emails to get customers to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.
They’re often created by a third party who’s altered the details to attempt to trick the recipient into believing that it’s from someone within the company. They then try to get you to click on a link or open an attachment that may contain viruses, or even request sensitive information.
How to protect yourself if you do receive a phishing email
- Do not click on the links within the e-mail, or visit any websites within it.
- Do not email any sensitive or personal information.
- Never disclose your password and change it often.
- Contact us.
Top tips on spotting a spoof email:
- Generic greeting: Phishing emails don’t usually address you personally and instead say "Dear Customer" or something similar. If you don't see your name, be suspicious.
- Poor grammar and spelling: If lots of mistakes appear in an email from a supposedly trusted company treat this as suspicious.
- Sense of urgency: Internet criminals want to get their hands on your personal information as soon as they can and so they want you to act fast. For example: if you don't respond in 24 hours your account will be closed.
- Plain text/Absence of logos: If the email is plain text and looks different from what you would expect it to look like from that sender, it’s best to treat it as suspicious.
- Requests for personal/confidential information: If you receive an email requesting personal information such as usernames, passwords or bank details - treat it as a phishing email!
- Financial requests: Nobody in LV= will ever send you an email asking you to send money directly or pay a bill immediately using bank details or money transfers - we have a set of standard processes for this.
- Forged link: Even if a link includes a name you recognise, it doesn't mean it links to a legitimate site. Roll your mouse over the link to see if it matches what appears in the email and if there’s a discrepancy, don't click on the link.
- High risk attachments file types include: .exe, .scr, .zip, .com, .bat.
Fighting financial crime
At LV= we work hard to prevent fraud and other financial crimes to help keep your premiums as low as possible. We employ teams of specialists to prevent and investigate financial crime and they have many years of crime fighting experience.
What to do if you suspect a phishing email from us:
Email us:
[email protected]
If you don't have an LV= policy:
Report your suspicions to the Insurance Fraud Bureau