BE FRAUD AWARE
The Eastern Region's Regional Organised Crime Unit exists largely to deal with high-level crime, such as terrorism, gun crime, slavery and child exploitation, but it does produce some useful information on economic crime which is focused on fraud. Click on the link to go to their website.
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With the introduction of NHS Test & Trace, Essex Police has produced guidance against fraudulent callers purporting to be Contact tracers. Click on Essex Police guidance for more... and on Essex Police Covid19 for an update created on 7th August 2020... For full Government guidance on the procedure, follow the link to NHS Test & Trace...
Notice has also been issued about a TV Licence scam which has begun following the introduction of new procedures in August 2020. Click on Essex Police TV Licence link for more information...
Further publications dated 13th November 2020 covering investment fraud and fraudulent PayPal emails and dated 4th December 2020 dealing with fake BT calls can be found by clicking on Essex Police Investment Fraud and Essex Police BT calls respectively...
An update on 5th March 2021 concerns Holiday Fraud...
...and the latest from April 2021 concerns Romance Fraud...
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Click on this link for advice and information from Essex Police about fraudulent activities generally.
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The Third Age Trust has recently shared information about u3a members who were victims of scams:
One reported a phishing email supposedly received from Norton, an anti virus software company, about payment to renew an account she does not have. It said that they would deduct over £220 unless she cancelled within 48 hours. If you receive an email like this, please don't click on the links and please take independent advice before paying any unexpected requests for money.
Another reported a company specialises in products aimed at older adults who had taken extra money out of her bank account without her knowledge. With the help of the member's bank, any further charges on the account from the company were stopped and eventually the company paid back the money. Check your bank accounts regularly and immediately report any suspicious debits that you do not recognise. Most banks are able to put a stop to any charges and give advice on how to get refunds where appropriate. Another good practice is to search for reviews and credit ratings before buying from a new company.
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The City of London Police have issued guidance regarding a scam relating to fraudulent investment schemes, or 'money flipping'. Click on Money flipping for more information...
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The Third Age Trust have issued a Scam Alert pointing out calls which purport to be from the Fraud Department of your bank regarding “suspicious transactions” on your account. Click on Bank Fraud for more information: ...
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...and, last but not least, Barry Linton of Thorpe Bay u3a, who works as a volunteer with Essex Police, has produced a page for the Thorpe Bay website itemising some Fraud Alerts. Click on Thorpe Bay Fraud Alerts...