7 minute read
5 Types Of Scams Targeting Drivers
5 types of scams now targeting drivers
Go Compare has warned motorists to be vigilant as new concerns that economic uncertainty, along with tightened lockdown measures designed to preventing a second wave of the pandemic, will increase fraud.
Advertisement
The restrictions have doubled the amount of time people spend online managing their affairs. This has attracted cyber criminals who are targeting the sale of vehicles through digital sales platforms or are acting as genuine organisations and companies, including the DVLA, to steal victims’ money, personal information or to try to get them to click on links which may contain malware. Coronavirus has also meant that many people are having to manage on much-reduced income – making them more vulnerable to fraudsters offering deals that are to good to be true.
Fake car sales
Fake car listings copied from legitimate car adverts are used to incise buyers, citing coronavirus restrictions as the reason the car can’t be viewed in face to face. Fraudsters are offering to deliver the car once money has been placed into a holding account, assuring the would-be buyer that the cash will not be released until they have seen the car and agreed the purchase. Victims are often lured by too good to be true deals and hand over large deposits to secure the vehicle. The fraudster then immediately banks the money, leaving their victim with nothing.
Vehicle matching scams
Fraudsters who cold call someone that has just placed an advert to sell their car, claiming they have an immediate buyer for the car. They then ask the seller for an upfront fee, which is refundable if the car does not sell. The car is not sold and, the refund is never paid. Insurance broker fraud (also known as ‘ghost broking’) Scammers pretend to be legitimate insurance brokers to sell fake or invalid car insurance policies. Motorists are lured by the promise of cheap premiums. Fraudsters ask their victims for an upfront ‘arrangement fee’ to secure the deal.
Victims of “Ghost brokers” are usually oblivious to the fact they are not insured until they submit a claim following an accident or are stopped by the police for driving without insurance. In some cases, ghost brokers also retain the victim’s card details and use these
to pay for other victims’ insurance.
DVLA Scams
This year DVLA warned of a 20% increase in fraudulent activity. Cyber criminals posing as the DVLA issue text message and email scams and set-up fake websites. Official looking messages will have links asking for payment details to rectify failed vehicle tax payments or advising victims that they are due a vehicle tax refund while the websites attract motorists looking for the DVLA site to renew their driving licences. Criminals have also coxed drivers into paying for services that do not exist. Scams have included selling driving test passes e payment to remove penalty points from driving licences.
Accident scams
Crash for cash scammers are run by criminals who stage accidents by targeting an innocent driver to become the ‘at fault driver’, to profit from fraudulent insurance claims. Common tactics are deliberately slamming on the brakes to ensure the vehicle behind crashes into them or ‘flash for cash’ scams where criminals wait for victims to exit from side roads, and flash their headlights, appearing to offer the victim a right of way to join the flow of traffic. Once the victim commits to exiting the criminals speed up and hit them side-on.
The aim is to make as much money as possible from exaggerated claims, with proceeds often used to fund more serious crimes. Fleur Lewis, Head of Fraud at GoCompare commented, “COVID-19 has changed the way we live and an increasing number of people are managing everyday activities, including shopping for goods and services, online – many for the first time. Criminals are exploiting the situation. Since lockdown was first introduced, there have been big increases in reports of cybercrime and other fraudulent activities. brand or an organisation you trust, which can acts as a conduit of information for the Ben Fletcher, Director at the IFB, said: “Motor insurance fraud. If anyone has any
Go Compare has provided the below tips to help avoid falling victim to fraud:
“The new tightened lockdown rules introduced If a deal looks too good to be true, it usually in a bid to prevent a second wave of the is. For example, cars being put up for sale at pandemic coupled with continued a much lower price than others of the same economic uncertainty, create perfect make, model, and mileage. Or offers of very conditions for fraudulent activity. So, we’re cheap insurance advertised on social media urging people to be extra vigilant. or websites. Are you being pressured to “Scams are becoming increasingly Fraudsters often use threats of fines, deadsophisticated and using the internet, criminals lines or time-limited offers to pressure victims often conduct frauds by pretending to be a into responding. act (e.g. ‘within 24 hours’ or ‘immediately’)? make them difficult to spot. Be aware of and don’t respond to emails or texts asking for your personal details or unsoThe good news is that from making sure the licited proposals offering easy money. For exsecurity on online devices are up to date to ample, the DVLA doesn’t send text messages being able to recognise common tactics with links asking for payments nor does it employed by fraudsters - there are steps you text drivers advising of a tax refund. Think can take to help avoid falling victim to fraud.” carefully about the information you share on Last year, GoCompare also became the first Publicly available information about you can comparison site to join the Insurance Fraud be used by criminals to make their phishing Bureau (IFB), a not-for-profit organisation that messages more convincing. insurance industry to help fight against fraud. Make sure your online devices and apps are To combat the rise in fraud, the IFB has regularly updated with the latest software, launched a national campaign, called ‘Stop which usually contain important security upthe Scams’, to help the public spot signs dates. Avoid clicking on links in emails. Go to of scams and report them to the Insurance the company or organisation’s website by Fraud Bureau (IFB) Cheatline. entering its address directly into your fraud is the most common type of insur- Ensure you always use a secure website ance scam and the disruption of Covid-19 when you need to enter confidential or is sadly providing even more opportunities sensitive information. Look for addresses for fraudsters to target the public. We must beginning “https://” and not “http://” and the do more which is why we’ve launched an small padlock symbol. If, your browser industry-backed ad campaign called Stop the displays a security alert indicating that the Scams to help the public spot signs of site is not trusted, don’t go any further. social media and review your privacy settings browser. information about a known or potential If you suspect that you have been contacted insurance scam they can report it to the IFB’s by, or have fallen victim to a fraud, you can Cheatline* - their information could help to report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police. launch an investigation.” uk / 0300 123 2040
Ingredients Method
1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 large onion, thickly sliced 2 garlic cloves, crushed 180g jar korma curry paste 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 400g can light coconut milk 500g sweet potatoes, peeled and diced 3 tbsp smooth peanut butter 400g can chick peas, drained and rinsed 3 x 125g packs baby spinach 3 tbsp desiccated coconut Plain naans, to serve
Feeds 6 Ready 1 Hour Heat the oil in a large lidded pan and cook the onion over a medium heat for a few minutes to soften
Add the garlic, curry paste and spices, then cook for 1 minute until fragrant Pour in the coconut milk, then fill the can with water and add that to the pan, along with the sweet potato Bring the liquid just to the boil Put the peanut butter in a small bowl and spoon over 2-3 tbsp of the hot coconut milk mixture, whisking in, until it’s runny Pour into the pan and stir in, mixing well Bring back up to the boil, then turn down the heat, cover and simmer for 25–30 mins, until the sweet potato is tender Stir the chick peas, spinach and desiccated coconut into the curry and heat through Season, then serve with the naan breads
