One of our Spark Jump delivery partners received a call yesterday from a concerned Spark Jump family. They had received the email message from Skinny (see example below) telling them to update to their modem by clicking on a response button. This set off alarm bells for the family. Recalling their training at the local library where they were instructed to be on the alert for phishing scams and to never click on an email response button unless they were absolutely sure they knew who the sender was, they did the sensible thing and called the library. As it happened the librarian taking the call did not know about the modem upgrade (he hadn’t been connected to this blog, but now is!) and did the sensible thing to get in touch with us at DIAA. We of course reassured him that the upgrade is perfectly legitimate and clicking on the email buttons just directs people to the relevant section of the Skinny website. But, well done to this library on two counts:
(a) for covering online safety as part of their training when setting up modems; and
(b) for checking this out when they received the inquiry.
And accolades to the family for putting into action their training. We are going to send them some complimentary top-up vouchers as an acknowledgement.
Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa 