Scams etc.
This page brings you news and information regarding scams, phishing and other such topics.
If you feel something should be added, is incorrect, misleading or confusing, please let us know using the CONTACT page.
Should you be a victim of fraud or cyber crime, you can report it using the Action Fraud online reporting service at any time of the day or night, see the link below. The service enables you to both report a fraud and find help and support. They also provide help and advice over the phone through the Action Fraud contact centre. You can talk to their fraud and cybercrime specialists by calling 0300 123 2040.
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GENERAL ADVICE
Latest Scam warning Oct 2023
Borrowers targeted by dodgy £30-a-month ‘savings’ sites
People searching for loans online are unknowingly signing up for £29.95 a month subscriptions to websites they've never heard of.
We’ve received reports of 13 different 'savings' websites appearing on bank statements. These websites claim to offer daily discount codes, exclusive deals, cashback, and assistance with rebuilding bad credit.
Scammers posing as police officers
A Which? member was recently cold called by a scammer who pretended to be a police officer. The scammer claimed that the police had arrested someone who had used the member's bank card. When asked for further details, the scammer became aggressive and ended the call.
It's important to remember that the police will never ask for personal or financial information over unsolicited calls.
A warning to landline users
The digital switchover, which is expected to be completed in 2025, will involve UK telephone providers moving customers from old analogue landlines to services which use digital technology.
The move is free of charge, but there have been reports of fraudsters calling vulnerable people claiming they need their bank details as part of the switchover or their service will be disconnected. Unfortunately, these scam attempts will likely rise as the switchover date nears. Stay alert of calls out of the blue and share this story with friends and family.
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Victim loses more than £6,000 after buying an £8 camera on eBay
The victim followed the instructions to download an app from the Google Play store. He didn't know it at the time, but he was installing malware on his phone, which allowed scammers to hack his bank account and steal thousands of pounds.
Malware is commonly used by scammers, but it isn't always detected by antivirus software. Find out more about this scam.
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The Online Safety Bill
Tech giants will be ordered to block and remove scams from their platforms, or face huge new fines from Ofcom.
On Tuesday, it was announced the Online Safety Bill is now ready to become law. Crucially, it includes our campaign calls for protections against devastating scam adverts on social media platforms and search engines.
This is a groundbreaking moment in our fight against online scams, marking a major step towards a safer internet. Read more about what it means for online safety.
Dodgy YouTube ads
The YouTuber MrBeast has around 170 million subscribers and regularly gives away money to guests who overcome challenges in his videos. Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of this by creating fake ads that promise cash giveaways in MrBeast's name.
If you click on one of these ads, you'll be taken to a phishing website where your personal information can be compromised or malware can be downloaded onto your device.
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Beware of fake Microsoft ‘spyware’ pop-ups on your computer
Scammers are impersonating Microsoft in pop-ups warning your computer is infected with spyware.
These pop-ups appear suddenly on your screen. They claim that your device has a virus and that your personal and financial data is at risk, before asking you to call a phone number for support.
Read the stories about victims targeted by this scam and get advice on what to do if you’re targeted by dodgy pop-ups.
Victims of Scams
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Watch out for fake B&Q product giveaways
Fraudsters are impersonating B&Q in dodgy emails which promise free products in exchange for filling out a survey.
If you click on these emails, you’ll be taken to a recently created website where you’re asked to complete a short survey. You’ll then be asked to fill out a form and pay £2 for postage. At this point, scammers will steal your personal information and bank details.
It’s important to be aware of phishing emails and fraudulent websites designed to trick people into giving away personal and financial details. Learn more about how this scam works and what to do if you encounter a fake email or website.
Soaring TV Licence scams
TV Licence scams are again on the rise, with Action Fraud warning people about emails that lead to dodgy websites asking for your details. Action Fraud says it has received over 3,400 reports about TV Licence scams in the past two weeks.
These emails typically state that a recipient's licence is about to expire or that there has been an issue with their most recent payment.
Find out how to spot the difference between a genuine TV Licensing email and a phishing scam.
Microsoft storage phishing email
Scammers are targeting Microsoft users through ‘storage full’ emails. These scam emails ask Microsoft customers to fill out their personal data, including bank details, to purchase the ‘extra space’ on a spoofed website.
Fraudulent emails
The rise of fraud on the UK's company register
Last year, 10,000 people applied to have their address removed from the Companies House register, after discovering it was being used without their consent.
A single fraudulent company registration can create a cascade of financial crime – tricking individuals, who wrongly assume that any company on the register is legitimate, out of cash.
Shield from fraud
Put to Rights - fake demand letters
Do you have an issue that you need to put right? Which? can help you.
For our latest Put to Rights piece, we helped a victim of identity fraud who received a ‘final demand notice letter’ for a phone they never owned. If fraudsters get hold of your personal data, they can use it to open bank accounts, take out credit cards and loans, or obtain documents in your name.
Amazon Prime scam
Scammers are impersonating Amazon to get access to your device.
These scam calls involve fraudsters telling consumers that their Amazon Prime subscription is increasing in price or expiring. If you say you want to cancel, you’ll be asked to download remote access software such as AnyDesk. This is a genuine program that fraudsters sometimes use to exploit victims. Once you download the program, the scammer will be able to access your device and steal your information or install malware.
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Fake People’s Postcode Lottery letters
If you receive a letter claiming that you’ve won thousands in the People’s Postcode Lottery, it’s important to take a moment to ensure you’re not being targeted by a scammer.
This scam letter includes the People’s Postcode Lottery logo and branding and claims that your postcode has been randomly selected from the electoral roll database. You’re asked to call a number to claim your prize which is when the scammer will phish your personal details.
HMRC warns self-assessment taxpayers to watch out for scams
With the deadline for paper returns on 31 October and online self-assessments due on 31 January 2023, millions of people are likely to be more receptive to messages or phone calls purporting to be from HMRC.
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We reveal the most common tax-related scams and how you can avoid becoming a victim.
Tax-related scams
We’ve exposed the £400 energy grant scam text
Scammers are looking to entice people into sharing their personal details by sending phoney texts about government energy bill rebates.
Our experts click the suspicious links in these scam texts so you know what to look out for, but never do this yourself. Watch our video to see how the scam works.
Energy grant scam
People’s Postcode Lottery scam email
Fraudsters are tempting you into giving away personal documents by pretending that you’ve won the People’s Postcode Lottery. They’re asking for a wealth of information, including a photo of your driving licence or passport, so stay alert.
Keep your identity safe by knowing what to look out for, we have screenshots and plenty of advice here.
Surprise, surprise – scammers taking advantage of surging costs
At this difficult time, we’re all looking for the best financial advice and any cheeky discount we can get our hands on, but please remain vigilant. Fraudsters are trying to capitalise on this, from supermarket giveaways to petrol gift cards – make sure you know what to look out for.
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11 Nov 21
23M People Used 123456 As A Password
by Steve Austin
Message Sent by Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National):
Whether it’s your Facebook, Amazon, or Netflix account, the explosion in popularity of online apps and services means more and more of us have to remember an increasingly long list of passwords.
Unfortunately, some of us cope with this challenge by resorting to practices that leave our data, devices and money at risk - by using the same password across multiple accounts, or by creating simple passwords that could easily be guessed by hackers. Bad password practice is more prevalent than you might think - the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre carried out analysis of passwords leaked in data breaches and found that more than 23 million users worldwide used 123456 as a password. You can read more about it here: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/most-hacked-passwords-revealed-as-uk-cyber-survey-exposes-gaps-in-online-security
Here are some top tips that will make your life easier and your online accounts more secure:
1: Creating memorable passwords
A good way to create strong, memorable passwords is by using 3 random words. But remember, don’t use words that can be guessed (like your pet’s name). You can include numbers and symbols if you need to. For example, “RedPantsTree4!”
2: Saving passwords in your browser
Saving your password in your browser means letting your web browser (such as Chrome, Safari or Edge) remember your password for you.
This can help:
· make sure you do not lose or forget your passwords
· protect you against some cyber crime, such as fake websites
It is safer than using weak passwords, or using the same password in more than one place.
Here are some useful links on how you can start saving passwords in your browser: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Safari.
3: Email account passwords
If a hacker gets into your email account, they could:
· reset your other online account passwords
· access personal information you have saved about yourself or your business
Your email password should be strong and different to all your other passwords. This will make it harder to crack or guess.
Need help changing your email account password? You can use these links to find step by step instructions: Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Outlook, BT, AOL Mail.
For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware
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New 159 Service
Councillor Richard Macrae has shared the following information with us:
If you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money or personal details…
…Stop, hang up and call 159 to speak directly to your bank.
Last year criminal gangs stole over £470m by pretending to be your bank or other service provider.
159 is the memorable, secure number that connects you directly to your bank if you think you’re being scammed.
159 works in the same way as 101 for the police or 111 for the NHS. It’s the number you can trust to get you through to your bank, every time.
159 will never call you. Only a fraudster will object to you calling 159.
When should I call 159?
Call 159 if:
· Someone contacts you saying they’re from your bank – even if they are not suspicious
· You receive a call asking you to transfer money or make a payment – even if it seems genuine
· You receive a call about a financial matter and it seems suspicious
Remember, 159 will never call you. But you can rely on 159 to get you through to your bank.
Who is behind 159?
159 has been set up by banks and telephone companies who want to fight fraud. It’s a pilot scheme at the moment. The following banks are part of it:
· Barclays
· Lloyds (including Halifax and Bank of Scotland)
· NatWest (including Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank)
· Santander
· Starling Bank
That covers over 70% of UK primary current account holders.
We want more banks to join us, and we hope they will over the course of the pilot.
Will it definitely work on my telephone?
Almost all major consumer telephone companies are participating, and almost all UK mobiles and landlines are able to use 159.
The telephone companies are:
· BT, including EE and Plusnet
· Gamma
· O2, including giffgaff
· TalkTalk
· Three
· Virgin Media
· Sky
· Vodafone
What happens if 159 doesn’t work, for any reason?
You should contact your bank in the normal way, using the number on your bank card.
How much does it cost to call 159?
Calling 159 will cost the same as a national rate call; usually part of the included minutes in most phone tariffs.
What’s the idea behind the 159 pilot?
159 is a pilot scheme – the idea is to collect evidence to show that calling 159 helps fight fraud. Then we want to make 159 a universal number – available on all phones and for all banks.
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Aug21
Scam alert
Our Trading Standards Team has received reports of a scam in the form of a call from someone falsely claiming to be from a health service.
During the call, scammers ask people if they have had a health problem and then go on to ask for their address and when their family visit them. They then say that they will get a colleague to go out and see them at their address.
Unfortunately it's not always easy to spot a scam, but if you think you've received a suspicious phone call, you should:
Hang up
Call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 2231133 to report the call and get advice
Jun 21
A New e-mail scam about Covid is circulating please see the photo (On Right) for more info
May 21
A text-message scam that infects Android phones is spreading across the UK, experts have warned.
The message - which pretends to be from a package delivery firm, prompts users to install a tracking app - but is actually a malicious piece of spyware.
Called Flubot, it can take over devices and spy on phones to gather sensitive data, including online banking details.
Network operator Vodafone said millions of the text messages were already being sent, across all networks.
"We believe this current wave of Flubot malware SMS attacks will gain serious traction very quickly, and it's something that needs awareness to stop the spread," a spokesman said.
Customers should "be especially vigilant with this particular piece of malware", he said, and be very careful about clicking on any links in a text message.
Other networks, including EE and Three, followed with warnings of their own.
see image for example
SCAM WARNING Text message requesting confirmation of personal details (Including bank accounts) in order to confirm a Vaccine booking DO NOT RESPOND
See image for example
The Police, Banks or HMRC will NEVER TELEPHONE YOU to ask you to transfer money, withdraw cash, for your bank account/card details or your PIN. If this is where the conversation is going, just hang up!
Additionally, don't let people send you money, even if you do get to keep some of it! This is called money laundering, which is illegal and only helps criminals "clean" cash acquired via illegal activities such as drug smuggling, prostitution and people trafficking. They will of course, want your bank details as well!
There is only ever one reason that a scammer will contact you and that is to steal something, be it money, information or goods.
They may call at your door, telephone you, email you, text you, stop you in the street to ask for help or leave a package that you sign for and they later ask for it back.
There is no harm in being suspicious and cautious, because in all likelihood you don't know them, so why trust them?
They will have a credible and well rehearsed story to tell you, to help you to give them what they want.
DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS when they ask for any personal information or for you to identify yourself in some way. Remember, it's you that doesn't know them!
You may be threatened that your credit/debit card or bank account will be stopped.
You may be threatened that your internet service or computer will be blocked or even that there is pornography on it.
Whatever the threat, tell them that you will contact the relevant company yourself to sort out the problem.
There is no point arguing with them, just HANG UP.
DO NOT USE any contact telephone number(s) that they may try to give you.
Wait at least half an hour or longer before telephoning the relevant company, as the caller may still be on the line, even after you have hung up. Alternatively, if you can, use a different telephone number to call from.
NEVER ALLOW ANYBODY INSIDE YOUR PROPERTY if you are not expecting them or don't know them. Ask them to produce their company's identity card and telephone the company to confirm their identity and the reason that they are here. If they are genuine, they will not mind your doing so.
ALWAYS REMEMBER, EVEN IF THEY ARE IN A UNIFORM e.g. Policeman's, British Gas Engineer's, they may not be what they appear to be.
MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY OUTSIDE WHILST YOU ARE TELEPHONING THEIR COMPANY and SHUT YOUR DOOR.
DO NOT USE any contact telephone number(s) that they may try to give you.
You may find it helpful to have a list of the telephone numbers that you may need to call, just in case!
If you want to block a phone number from calling you again, click on CALL BLOCKING SERVICES, under LINKS on the right-hand side of this page, for details of how to do it.
To reduce the number of nuisance calls that you receive, you can register your telephone number with the Telephone Preference Service.
To reduce the amount of junk mail that you receive, you can register your address with the Mailing Preference Service.
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You may find the following informative:
- Coronavirus Scams from National Trading Standards.
- Action Fraud is a service run by the City of London Police working alongside the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. This has details on a number of scams currently being operated.
- Take Five from Financial Fraud Action UK, is well worth a read and has tips on a variety of scams and fraud.
- ScamSmart from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), gives you the opportunity to check out whether a pension or investment opportunity is genuine.
- Password Checker from the Open University, allows you to test the strength of your passwords.
You may be interested in looking at the following, which have been issued by the Metropolitan Police:
Some other new scams to look out for
Here are a few other scams to beware of:
'Good cause' scams, where scammers will ask you to invest in good causes such as face masks and hand sanitiser production, often promising lucrative returns
Cold calls, emails, texts or WhatsApp messages telling you that your bank is in trouble due to the pandemic and you need to transfer your money to an alternative bank account
Scammers asking for upfront fees when applying for loans or credit cards that you'll never receive, in an attempt to exploit people experiencing short-term financial concerns
Here are some other signs of a scam that you should look out for:
A call, email or text message asking you for personal details or to transfer money
A cold call or email from someone pretending to be from an authorised insurance company, trying to advise you on the sale of a pension or investment product
Anyone asking for your passwords
Anyone asking you to move money into another account or asking you to pay fees directly into another bank account
Remember to trust your instincts. If you think the offer sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
How to protect yourself
There are ways you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of scams:
Don't click on links or open emails from senders you don't already know
Fraudsters try to make their emails look genuine, so check your emails are actually from whom they claim to be. Look out for spelling mistakes and be aware that as a Prudential customer, you will only receive emails from @pru.co.uk or @prudential.co.uk email addresses and not deviations such as @prudentialltd.co.uk. To check if an email address is genuine, you should scroll over the sender name to see if there is a different email address behind it
Always do your homework before you give away any personal details to a person or organisation you don't already know
Be vigilant when taking unsolicited calls or checking unexpected emails
Avoid being rushed or pressured into making decisions
You can find out more on spotting scams and what to do to protect yourself by visiting our dedicated scams hub. You can also visit the Financial Conduct Authority's Scamsmart website for more information on how to avoid pension and investment scams.