We want to help you recognise fraud

The following are some of the most common scams and tips to help prevent you from being victimised.

Top tips

  1. Be aware
  2. Don’t be fooled
  3. Ask for advice

Cost of Living Payments Scam

You receive a call or other digital contact claiming to be from the local authority/Department for Work and Pensions/Energy provider, contacting in relation to making cost of living related payments to you. Under the pretence of providing the cost of living payment, the fraudster will look to obtain your banking information/other data to plunder your bank account or commit identity fraud.

Microsoft Scam

Aka Malware. You receive a call which suggests that your computer is running slow because of a virus and you are advised to log onto a site to fix this problem. In reality, logging onto the site allows the scammers to spread a virus onto your PC – and they then charge you an unlocking fee.

Online Dating Scam

In these scams the victim is tricked into paying airfares and other “expenses” for their “date” to come meet them.

Working from home scam

Paid work from home is advertised in a local newspaper, shop or on a lamppost offering the promise of fast cash for minimal effort. But you have to pay an up-front fee – perhaps for ‘training material’ – which never turns up.

Lottery/ Prize Draws

In 2013 some victims ended up paying six figure sums to try to get hold of their non-existent “winnings”.

Doorstep Electricity credit

If you use a pre-payment meter then a scammer may approach you to offer cut-price electricity. The scammer will then use cloned keys to top up energy credit illegally. Electricity companies don’t get paid for energy used, and you end up paying for the energy twice – first to the fraudsters and then to the company at the correct rate.

Charity collection

Check that once you fill up the charity bag that is pushed through your door that all money actually go towards the appropriate charity.

Loan Scams

Fraudsters cold call homes offering  a loan and request upfront arrangement payment of usually around £100 by bank transfer. The loan never turns up – but the fees have been taken from your bank account!

Telephone scam

‘Vishing’ involves a fraudster posing on the phone as someone from a bank, a fraud investigation team, the police or another legitimate organisation such as a telephone or internet provider. They attempt to get financial information which often includes card and bank account details, pin numbers, as well as information about the victim, such as their full name, date of birth and address, which they can then use to plunder the victim’s account or commit identity fraud.

Scam emails from HMRC

Don’t get too excited if you get an email from [email protected] saying you’re owed a tax rebate. These bogus emails are not from the HMRC – which would never inform you of a rebate via email – but from fraudsters trying to get hold of your bank details.