INTRODUCTION
SCAM WARNING!
A scam is a scheme designed to con you out of your cash.
TYPES OF SCAMS
There are always new ways for people to be scammed. Advances in modern technology means that scams are becoming more sophisticated as victims are targeted via the internet, mobile phones and social media.
There are many types of scams and they can arrive in the mail, be emailed, telephoned or you may find yourself being scammed by people you meet.
There are many types of scams. Some examples include:
To help you keep alert for scams information is throughout this booklet on some of the more common scams. Remember though these are just some of the scams that you may encounter
• Lottery or prizes draw scams - You will be notified that you have won a large sum prize on a lottery or draw that you didn’t enter. To claim the winnings victims must send a fee to release the funds. • Dating/Romance Scams - People who use dating websites are targeted by scammers who set up fake profiles where they groom the victim by building an online relationship. Victims are often persuaded to hand over money to help their online ‘partner’. • Catalogue Scams - Victims are encouraged to buy products which promise ‘miracle cures’ at bargain prices. But these products are of little value, do not achieve what they promise and may not even arrive. • Investment Fraud - This involves cold calling consumers to offer products such as wine, diamonds and land as an investment opportunity. Often, the products do not even exist and even if they do, the financial returns promised simply fail to materialise. • Recovery Room Fraud - Victims who have already lost money to an initial investment scam are contacted again to be told that their investment can be recovered on payments of further fees or on purchase of other commodities. • Banks and Building Society scams - Be aware of emails making out to be from your Bank. Do not open attachments AND THE NUMBER OF SCAMS JUST KEEPS ON GROWING. For many, spam email, ‘junk’ post or unsolicited phone calls are just a nuisance. But increasingly there is evidence that thousands of consumers are falling victim to the illegal approaches of scammers and are losing hundreds and in some cases thousands of pounds. Don’t be fooled when you are told, you have won the Lottery, you are a Guaranteed Winner, all winnings and prizes are Time Sensitive and Sworn to Secrecy by not telling friends and family.
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I THINK A SCAM HAS TAKEN PLACE If you, a friend or member of your family thinks they have fallen victim to a scam it should be reported as soon as possible to Action Fraud.
PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM SCAMS Scam mail is designed to look official and authentic. There are signs to look out for to identify a possible scam and protect yourself and others from the scammers. Be alert to scams. If you have had uninvited contact, always consider the possibility it is a scam. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Know who you are dealing with. If you are unsure if the person or business is legitimate then do some research on them. Search the internet for others who may have had dealings with them. Do not open suspicious links, emails, texts or pop-up windows. If you are unsure carry out an internet search for information. Don’t use contact details contained in the message. Beware of any requests for personal details or money. Never send money, credit card details, online account details or personal details to anyone you don’t know or don’t trust. Don’t agree to transfer money or goods on someone else’s behalf; it is money laundering and is illegal.
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TELEPHONE SCAMS
Door-to-door frauds can take many forms, including: • pressure selling
MISSED CALL SCAMS
• unfair contracts
Your phone registers a missed call. You don’t recognise the number so you call it back. Most of the time the call will be perfectly above board, but you may be redirected to a premium rate service which can cost up to £15 per call.
• overpriced or substandard home maintenance or improvements
RECORDED MESSAGE SCAMS The number you’re asked to call back may be a recorded message telling you that you’ve won a prize, and giving you another number to call to ‘claim’ it. But this second number may be a premium rate one. Also, your prize may be nothing more than a ring tone subscription - which can also be a fraud.
TEXT MESSAGE SCAMS You’re sent a text from a number you don’t recognise, but it’ll be worded as if it’s from a friend. For instance: ‘Hi, it’s John. I’m back! When do you want to catch up?’ So you call it back, thinking you’re doing them a favour by telling them they’ve got the wrong person, only to be charged a fortune for a premium rate call. Or you may text back and end up engaging in a lengthy SMS exchange. You find out that you’ve been charged a high rate for your texts (and sometimes for your received texts as well).
DOORSTEP SCAMS Bogus tradesmen, door-to-door sales or doorstep fraud involves fraudsters trying to scam you after knocking at your door. Legitimate doorstep selling involves someone selling you goods or services in your home or on your doorstep. Many honest businesses use this technique – but so do fraudsters. Buying on your doorstep can be convenient. However, a salesman who uses clever tactics can pressurise you into buying something you actually don’t want or something that’s poor value for money.
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• phoney consumer surveys • bogus charity collections. Such frauds involve promoting goods or services that are either never delivered to you or are of a very poor quality. Fraudsters may also bill you for work that you didn’t agree to. There are specific laws about door-to-door sales. Many are required to give you a ‘cooling-off’ period (where you can change your mind or request your money back). Bogus tradesmen will offer none of these, and even if they do, you can be sure their ‘guarantee’ will not be honoured. Bogus salespeople will provide false identity or contact information, making it impossible for you to identify or contact them. If you’ve paid them in advance, you won’t get your money back. Even if your bank or insurance policy covers any loss, you’ll still have to contend with a damaged credit rating, continued correspondence over a prolonged period to repair the damage, and the emotional distress and anxiety identity theft can cause. Also, be wary of opening your door to a potential burglar or someone who wants to get inside your property to enable other people to break in. Once they get through your door, fraudulent salespeople can take note of your valuables and any security measures you have in place.
INTERNET SCAMS COMPUTER OR INTERNET SCAMS A scammer claiming to be from a company such as Microsoft or Apple contacts you to say there is an issue with your computer. They will then ask you to download software to fix it. This could place a virus on your computer which corrupts all your data, they may have access to your files allowing them to see personal information. Scammers may also ask for fees to validate software you have on your computer. 5
CHARITY SCAM
PENSIONS
You are asked to make a donation to a group of people or charitable cause. They may even be using the name of a well-known charity and be keeping the money themselves.
Pensions have changed and scammers are now offering to convert pension benefits into cash before 55.
If you are asked to donate via a website it may be fake and they can record your bank account details and use them to make purchases from your account. If you are asked to donate via phone it may be a premium rate number. Genuine charities are registered with the Charities Commission and print their registration details on collection bags, tins and envelopes. You can call them on their helpline 0845 300 0218 or by visiting www.charity-commission.gov.uk where they have an online charity register.
MAIL SCAMS
You may be asked to pay administrative fees to do this. You could also be told incorrect information about the value of the return on an investment they make for you. You may also be liable for genuine payments of fees and taxes.
EMAIL SCAMS ‘41 9 ’ EMAILS AND LETTERS When a stranger contacts you and asks you to pay an admin fee to help move a large amount of money from one country to another with the promise you’ll be rewarded with a cut of the cash later on.
LOTTERY OR PRIZE DRAW SCAM
These emails can involve countries such as Iraq, South Africa or somewhere in west Africa such as Ivory Coast, Togo or Nigeria, where the name ‘419’ (an article of the country’s criminal code) originates.
You’re told that you’ve won a prize in a competition that you haven’t even entered.
PROTECT YOURSELF
Lotteries are often based overseas and you could be contacting someone who is pretending to be from a genuine lottery. To claim the prize you have to pay an administration fee and send them personal documents such as a copy of your passport. You pay the fee and either get back nothing or get something worth less than the fee you’ve paid. With your personal details the scammers could even steal your identity.
• Don’t respond to any email like this. Delete it straight away. • Ask yourself "why me?". This person doesn’t know you and has no reason to trust you with such a large amount of money. • Never travel anywhere if offered, even if it isn’t far to go. You won’t get any money and you’re putting yourself in danger.
SPOT THE SIGNS
INHERITANCE SCAM You are contacted by a lawyer or other legal official who says someone with your surname has died leaving a large fortune. They are unable to trace any relatives so unless someone steps forward their money will all be passed to the government. They try to persuade you to make a claim for the money and to split it with the scammer. They will ask you to pay legal fees to obtain a non-existent inheritance. They may also ask for your bank account details and could steal money from your account.
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• It’s a badly-written email or letter from someone claiming to be a distant relative or in a position of authority, telling you to act quickly and keep the request a secret. • You’re asked to pay fees to help release a larger amount of cash, even though governments or companies would never ask you to help with a money transfer money like this. • You’re contacted later on by different people with a new proposition, or by people pretending to be investigators or authorities. It’s the same people using a different email.
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USEFUL CONTACTS If you have lost money to these or other scams you can report it to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime. You can report it online at www.actionfraud.police.uk/report or phone 0300 123 2040. Action Fraud lists an A-Z of fraud with over 150 different types of fraud and scam. Remember just because it isn’t featured here doesn’t mean it’s not a scam. If it seems too good to be true it probably is and you should not respond or follow up on these.
WHERE TO FIND ADVICE ON SCAMS A number of organisations provide advice on scams. Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime. As well as reporting fraud you can also find advice and updates on recent scams.
Think Jessica provide awareness raising events to raise the public’s awareness of vulnerable scam victims. They also campaign for more support for victims of scams.
Citizens Advice has advice online about common scams, spotting and reporting scams, protection from scams and vulnerable people and scams.
Register with the Telephone Preference Service to stop unwanted sales and marketing calls.
Which? have online guidance on the latest scams, how to spot scams, what to do if you’ve been scammed and how to report a scam. Age Cymru offer advice for older people including how to spot a scam and avoiding scams.
Register with the Mail Preference ServiceOpens to stop unwanted advertising mail. If you think you or a family member is receiving scam mail you can report it to the Royal MailOpens who are working with the relevant authorities who can then investigate and take action.
FRIENDS AGAINST SCAMS Friends Against Scams aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams by empowering communities to... ‘Take a Stand Against Scams.’ You can find out more about Friends Against Scams on their website at www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk.