What Can You Do?

Talk about fraud, scams and financial abuse with your friends and family
Share your experiences and make fraud, scams and financial abuse part of day-to-day conversations. This will help to break down the stigma and shame which is so often felt by victims, and will encourage victims to report and get the help and support that they need.

Recognise the impact that this crime can have on its victims
Victims of fraud, scams and financial abuse are not stupid, naïve, or greedy – they are victims of a crime.

Do not victim blame. Put the blame on the criminal where it belongs.
Phrases such as ‘how could anyone fall for that’ implies that it’s obvious and puts blame on the victim for not realising and responding. The criminals behind fraud, scams and financial abuse use coercive and controlling behaviour to defraud victims – the blame should be on the criminals, not the victims.

The phrase ‘fall for a scam’ is often used, but you don’t hear ‘fall for a burglary’. This kind of language puts blame on the victim. We need to change the language we use when talking to, and about scam victims, to take away the blame and shame.

Research showed that when people realised they’d become a victim of a scam, the most common feelings were being ‘angry’ with themselves, (46%), feeling ‘stupid’ (40%) and ‘embarrassed’ (38%).

The language we use when talking to, and about scam victims is really important – No Blame. No Shame.

Offers too good to be true!

Leading up to Christmas please be aware of scam adverts online and social media for popular Christmas presents that are just too good to be true and not advertised by an official retailer. An example of an offer too good to be true has recently been investigated by Which?

Which? found active scam ads promoting the £350 Jo Malone advent calendar for around £30. The official limited edition Jo Malone advent calendar retails for £350 and includes lotions, perfume, toiletries and candles.

Clues to look out for in these scam adverts are the bad spelling and grammar, and that the sellers use a random profile name unrelated to the actual brand, in this instance the Jo Malone brand. Some of the adverts led to malicious websites phishing for personal details.

The scam sites include a countdown timer and notifications about purchases in ‘real time’ and list the number of advent calendars in stock. These are typical tactics used to make victims act under pressure, without taking the time to verify the authenticity of the information.

Here are a few more tips to avoid shopping scams:

• Browse the website – look out for bad spelling and grammar, as well as the absence of terms and conditions and contact details.
• Check the URL – if it’s not the brand’s official website, it could be a scam page.
• Check how long ago the website was created by using a domain checker such as who.is – a newly created website should raise suspicions.

To report a scam ad on Facebook, select the three-dot icon on the right-hand side of the page and press ‘report’. Scam websites, like these dodgy phishing websites, can be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre.

Do not be tempted to give the scammers any further details, even if they claim to be ‘refunding ‘ you. If you think you may have been scammed, call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your bank card and report it to Action Fraud.

For the full article please follow this link: Watch out for scam Facebook ads for bogus Jo Malone advent calendars – Which? News which.co.uk

If you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money or personal details on the phone – stop, hang up and call 159 to speak directly to your bank for advice.

How it works
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 safely and securely, every time. So 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.

Who can use 159? The banks that currently use 159 are:

• Barclays
• Bank of Scotland
• Co-operative Bank
• First Direct
• Halifax
• HSBC
• Lloyds
• Metro Bank
• Nationwide Building Society
• NatWest
• Royal Bank of Scotland
• Santander
• Starling Bank
• Tide
• TSB
• Ulster Bank

The telephone companies involved in 159 are:

• BT (including EE and Plusnet)
• Gamma
• O2 (including giffgaff)
• Sky
• TalkTalk
• Three
• Virgin Media
• Vodafone

For more information please visit: https://stopscamsuk.org.uk/159

If you have been scammed or duped into contracting with a business or a trader and parted with money, please report to Citizens Advice Consumer Advice Line on 0808 223 1133 or go to the following website to report online:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue/

 

Scams are on the rise with criminals finding ever more devious ways to scam people. The last year has seen a rise in parking scams.

The first type of scam involves scammers placing their own QR code over the genuine ones on display in carparks.

People scan the code and enter their credit card information thinking they are paying for the space, but instead, it directs them to a fake website where scammers capture their payment details and take larger sums of money as well as capturing personal details which could be later used in fraud. Some people are finding they have signed up for subscription services which do not exist but take money every month.

Fake posters and signs are also being put up and taken down periodically which mimic the genuine companies and ensures people are duped and diverted to fake websites or apps. Due to not actually having paid for the space, people are also receiving parking tickets too.

We urge consumers to exercise caution when providing their credit or debit card details online by ensuring the website being used are genuine.

• To avoid these scams, ensure you only download parking apps directly through the App Store or official app provider, typing the official website directly into your browser or calling the phone number associated with the company.
• Do not use the QR codes displayed and search for the official company online, do not rely on the website given on a poster.
• Ensure you check your bank account regularly and challenge suspicious payments that you cannot account for.

If you find you have been the victim of a scam, speak to your bank to be advised on what steps to take and report the crime to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call an advisor on 0300 123 2040.

You may meet a stranger…
but rather than enjoying an enchanted evening, sadly there are always con-men or women out there trying to take advantage of people – often when they least expect it, or when they are at their most vulnerable.

One of the nastiest scams involves the promise of romance, but ultimately leads to men or women being duped into sending money to someone with whom they have been led into thinking that they have formed a genuine relationship.

Recent figures reveal that romance scams are on the rise. Indeed, by the end of 2022 it was reported that the amount of people who fell victim to romance scams had increased by 60%, with an average loss of over £8,000. Research also suggests that men have become the primary victims, now making up over half of all cases.

As with many scams, criminals will go to great lengths to gain the trust and convince victims that they are in a genuine relationship. Requests for money will usually only come over time – perhaps explained by the need for emergency medical care, or alternatively the victim may be told by the person that they live abroad but are unable to afford the costs of coming to the UK to meet up.

You should always be suspicious of any such requests for money, particularly where you have never met in person. Speak to your friends or family and ask their advice. If you are not computer savvy, perhaps ask someone who is to perform a google reverse image search which might reveal the true identity of the person or which might raise questions.

It may not be easy for the friend or relative of the victim to realise that there may be an issue, but potential signs are –

• Secrecy about the relationship and excuses as to why you have never seen the “partner”
• Evasion if you ask any questions about how they met
• Unusual levels of emotion for someone they have only just met
• Mention of money being sent to the person.

How to report it
It is perfectly natural for anyone who has been a victim of a scam to be ashamed or embarrassed, and to be a victim of a romance scam may feel particularly so, but always realise that you will not be alone.

Contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk.

Further advice can be obtained by emailing trading.standards@croydon.gov.uk