Introduction
Cybercrime is forecast to cost $10.5 trillion globally in 2025[1]. To put that into perspective, if cybercrime was a country, then it would be the third-largest global economy in the world – behind only the United States and China. While these figures are staggering, the reality is that it’s not just corporations at risk – individuals are equally at risk.
Recent news has continued to emerge about the damage caused by the cyber-attack on Marks & Spencer over Easter weekend. Some customer data was exposed, and disruptions have continued into June. Issues with online systems are expected to persist until July, with the overall cost to the business estimated at around £300 million . This is just one of several recent high-profile incidents that highlights the growing risks we all face online.
Recent news has continued to emerge about the damage caused by the cyber-attack on Marks & Spencer over Easter weekend. Some customer data was exposed, and disruptions have continued into June. Issues with online systems are expected to persist until July, with the overall cost to the business estimated at around £300 million[2]. This is just one of several recent high-profile incidents that highlights the growing risks we all face online.
Protecting your financial future means staying informed and secure online. At Aberdeen Financial Planning, we take our role in this seriously. We have robust cyber security measures in place to safeguard our clients’ information, regularly review our systems to stay ahead of emerging threats and have ongoing staff training.
As scams and threats become more sophisticated, caution is critical. Often, it’s less about being a technology whiz and more about being thoughtful and alert. In this article, we explore what’s happening in the cyber landscape, why it matters to you, and what you can do to stay safe.
Marks & Spencer
Over Easter weekend, Marks & Spencer suffered a cyber-attack that targeted its digital infrastructure. Online orders were suspended as the company took several systems offline. Some customer data - including names, physical addresses and email addresses – was stolen. Although no payment details or passwords were compromised, the breach has increased the risk of affected customers being targeted by scams such as phishing emails. This is just one of a series of recent attacks – both Co-op and Harrods have also been targeted in recent months, forcing them to take systems offline.
Over Easter weekend, Marks & Spencer suffered a cyber-attack that targeted its digital infrastructure. Online orders were suspended as the company took several systems offline. Some customer data - including names, physical addresses and email addresses – was stolen. Although no payment details or passwords were compromised, the breach has increased the risk of affected customers being targeted by scams such as phishing emails. This is just one of a series of recent attacks – both Co-op and Harrods have also been targeted in recent months, forcing them to take systems offline.
It’s easy to view such incidents as corporate problems, but cybercrime affects everyone. Marks & Spencer has stated that the attack was due to human error, not a weakness in its IT infrastructure[3]. It’s a stark reminder that we all need to be aware of the threat of cyber-attacks.
How to stay safe
Managing your own cybersecurity can feel daunting, especially as scammers become more sophisticated. We’re all more vulnerable when we’re tired, distracted or in a rush – and falling for an online scam is no different. Vigilance and awareness are key.
We have written a guide to help identify and prevent different kinds of financial scams and fraud: our guide. Knowing what to look for is a great place to start, but you also need a clear plan of action. The UK Government’s National Cyber Security Centre has a great questionnaire that you can go through to give you a plan of how to improve your personal cyber security:
Following links safely
Sometimes, articles about cyber security advise against clicking suspicious links – and then immediately ask you to click one! When clicking a link in an email, here are some things to consider:
- Check the sender - Do you recognise them? Look closely at the email address. Phishing emails often use email addresses that look real but have typos (e.g. @aberdenplz.com instead of @aberdeenplc.com).
- Inspect the URL: hover over the link and check it. Does it have “https” at the start rather than “http”? Does it look like you anticipated? If you are unsure, use a search engine to check the URL directly.
Additionally, it’s useful to know whether your email address has appeared in a public data breach. The NCSC recommends using https://haveibeenpwned.com or similar services that may be included with your antivirus or password manager tools.
How We Help Protect You
At Aberdeen Financial Planning, safeguarding your personal information is a top priority. We apply robust security measures to protect your data from loss, misuse, or unauthorised access. Our systems are aligned with industry standards and undergo regular audits and assessments by internal teams and independent experts. Our employees receive annual training on data protection and cyber security, and we continuously monitor and enhance our defences to stay ahead of emerging threats. Whether you’re accessing our services online or speaking with your financial planner, you can be confident that your information is protected with care and diligence.
In order to help provide additional reassurance around managing your finances, we have introduced a Personal Finance Portal that allows you to interact across multiple channels and see your complete financial picture in seconds, designed to provide you peace of mind with bank-level security. For further information speak to your financial planner.
If in doubt, contact us first
As mentioned, fraudsters will often use names and branding of well-known companies, like Aberdeen, to gain credibility and deceive people into thinking that they are legitimate in their communications. For your own re-assurance please know that when contacting you:
- We will never contact you via any social media platform or through direct messaging platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram etc.
- We will only ever send you emails with a link to an Aberdeen login page if you have registered for that service or opted in to receive emails from us.
Additionally, if you’re in any doubt, or worried about scams, please reach out to your financial planner who will be delighted to help.
The information in this article should not be regarded as financial advice. Information is based on our understanding in May 2025. Investment growth isn’t guaranteed and it’s possible that you could get back less than you paid in.