MoneyMagpie TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT …...TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM HAVE...
46
MoneyMagpie TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM Jasmine Birtles
Transcript of MoneyMagpie TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT …...TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM HAVE...
MoneyMagpie
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM
Jasmine Birtles
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM
HAVE YOU BEEN SCAMMED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS
LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF WITH THIS EASY GUIDE
Jasmine Birtles
If you have answered lsquonorsquo itrsquos likely that you are either staggeringly lucky or unaware of having had some cash taken from you by a clever fraudster
Scams are happening every minute and they are perpetrated by experienced and professional fraudsters whose job it is to steal money from other people
These frauds and scams are happening online and offline and there are many many ways that criminals can get at your cash now
But are we helpless to fight it
No
This book will give you the tools to protect yourself against scammers at home and abroad and even find out how to get your own back
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
TYPES OF SCAMS helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 6
Chapter 2
HOW TO SPOT A SCAM helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 7
Chapter 3
SCAMS GUIDEhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 8
Chapter 4
WORK AND BUSINESS - HOME WORKING SCAM helliphelliphelliphellip 9
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS - SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM hellip 10
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS - FAKE INVOICES SCAM helliphelliphelliphellip 12
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- FAKES helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 14
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- FAKE SHOPPING SITES helliphelliphellip 16
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- FREEBIES helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- HOTEL SCAM helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 19
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
CONTENTS
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD helliphellip 21
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDIA- FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo hellip 22
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA- TINY URL SCAM helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 23
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA- FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM helliphelliphelliphellip 24
Chapter 15
TAX- TAX EMAIL SCAM helliphelliphelliphellip 25
Chapter 16
TAX- SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC hellip 26
Chapter 17
FINANCE- BOILER ROOM SCAM helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 27
Chapter 18
FINANCE- SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS hellip 28
Chapter 19
FINANCE- INVESTMENT FRAUD hellip 29
Chapter 20
FINANCE- WESTERN UNION SCAM hellip 31
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
CONTENTS
Chapter 21
FINANCE- FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM hellip 32
Chapter 22
FINANCE- BANK TEXT SCAM hellip 34
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- PHONE SLAMMING hellip 36
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- CLAIRVOYANT SCAM 37
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM 39
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- CARD SKIMMING 40
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- ID THEFT helliphelliphelliphellip 42
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- PHISING AND SMISHING 45
Chapter 29
The Dark Web 46
6
Chapter 1
TYPES OF SCAMS
There are many different scams around and new ones being thought up pretty regularly but they tend to fall into a few basic categories
bull ID Theft ndash somebody takes on your identitybull Financial and investment scams ndash you are exploited through finance or
investment schemes which are fraudulentbull Impersonation scams ndash somebody pretends to be someone they are not
in order to scam youbull Authority scams ndash where either someone comes to your door pretending
to be a policeman who needs to check that you havenrsquot been burgledhellipthen burgles your home as he lsquolooks aroundrsquo or you get a lsquophishingrsquo email apparently from HMRC or another Government department telling you that you are owed a tax rebate or that you have to pay
bull Fakes ndash a medley of possible fraud based on faking an item for a consumer
bull Work scams This could be one of the various awful homeworking scams or more recently emails that say yoursquove been selected to do a great job and all you need is a bank account where some money will be lsquorestingrsquo
Note that most of these can happen online in fact oftentimes itrsquos easier and takes less effort for fraudsters to trick you on the web
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
7
Chapter 2
HOW TO SPOT A SCAM
Online and offline scams now happen more regularly than celebrities going into rehab so you should be on your guard more than ever
Oh and get your credit checked out if you have any concern that someone is using your ID for fraudulent purposes In fact itrsquos probably worth joining up one of those credit check services where for a monthly fee you can check your credit file any time day or night
We used to think that was just over-the-top but now wersquore all going to have to do it sooner or later to keep an eye on our accounts and stop this international criminal activity getting totally out of hand
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
8
Chapter 3
SCAMS GUIDE
To make things easier for you wersquove broken up this guide into 8 sections dealing with all areas of fraud and scam you might come across Handy if yoursquore looking to protect yourself from a particular type of con
Our sections are
1 Work and Business
2 Holiday and Leisure
3 Social Media
4 Tax
5 Finance
6 Telephone Classics
7 Personal Details and ID
8 The Dark Web
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
9
Chapter 4
WORK AND BUSINESS
HOME WORKING SCAM
According the Action Fraud ldquoThe scheme organiser will make you pay anadvance fee avoid paying you for the work yoursquove done make you buyworthless products or make you sign up others to the scheme before yoursquorepaidrdquoThese scams exploit you as a worker and make you think everything is worthyour while but it simply isnrsquot
What you can do
Donrsquot bother with envelope-stuffing schemes We havenrsquot found any that wereworth itDonrsquot go for anything that asks for payment upfront to join or get aninformation packCheck with this site and ask on the comments on articles like this one if yoursquorenot sure if something islegitimate or notRead our article on home-working scams here to find out the main types youcould be conned into doingThen check on our Make Money section for real ideas for making money fromhome
Herersquos Money-making ideas for the over 60rsquos and Online surveys Those arejust for starters
There are real ways you can make money from home but be very careful if itrsquossomething we havenrsquot recommended Ask us first if yoursquore in any doubt
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
You know what they say if itrsquos too good tobe truehellip
Yet thousands of people still get lured intoeasy money-making schemes throughoffers to start your own business fromhome or work from home
10
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
The scam
This scam was discovered by Financial Fraud Action UK Fraudsters are sendingspoof emails to workers impersonating senior members of the company suchas the finance director or chief executive They then ask the worker to transferthem money usually saying itrsquos an urgent circumstance such as itrsquos needed tosecure a new contract However of course the payment is made to thefraudsterrsquos account and they then withdraw the money straight awayWhatrsquos worrying is how convincing this scam can be Fraudsters use softwareto manipulate the characteristics of an email so it looks genuine ndash it includesthe correct senderrsquos address and looks like an email a worker really might getfrom a senior member of staff Sometimes fraudsters are even able to hack theactual accounts of members of staff often on web based servers The crooksare able to get all the details they need about the company from publiclyavailable information
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
11
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Finance Fraud Action UK has some top advice on avoiding thisscam
Always check any unusual payment requests directly ideally in person or bytelephone to confirm the instruction is genuine Do not use contact detailsfrom the emailEstablish a documented internal process for requesting and authorising allpayments and be suspicious of any request to make a payment outside of thecompanyrsquos standard processBe cautious about any unexpected emails which request urgent bank transferseven if the message appears to have originated from someone from your ownorganisationEnsure email passwords are robustConsider whether the email contains unusual language or is written in differentstyle to other emails from the sender
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoFraudsters will do all they can to make these scam emails look genuine so itrsquos important for businesses to be alert While an urgent request from the boss might naturally prompt a swift response it should in fact be a warning sign of a potential scam Thatrsquos why itrsquos vital that finance teams carefully check any unusual demands for payment through an alternative method such as over the phone or face to face before making the paymentrdquo
12
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
The scam
The scammers will send an invoicepretending to be from a legitimatecompany with a normal wordprocessing or spreadsheet documentattached
However to open it you will have toenable a macro (a set of pre-programmed instructions for acomputer) and this macro willdownload malicious software onto yourcomputer
This software will then monitor yourinternet usage and have access to allyour banking details ndash in fact it caninfect the whole of your businessnetwork
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Once it has your information it will send it back to the nasty criminals andtheyrsquoll help themselves to your hard-earned cash Unfortunately fraudstersare getting ever more sophisticated with their schemes making spottingpotential scams considerably harder
Scammers will try to use the same email address as a legitimate supplieruses ndash in some cases fraudsters even pretend to be a manager or colleague inthe same business to convince people to open the invoice
Also if yoursquore a freelancer and used to working through a lot of invoices whynot check out our top 5 Money Saving Hacks for Freelancers
13
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Financial Fraud Action UK have offered the following tips ndash
Be on the lookout for unexpected invoices or unusual payment requestsespecially those arriving in different file formats to normalAvoid enabling any macros on an untrusted document (Macros in themselvesare not dangerous and do serve a legitimate purpose ndash but they can be used tohide malware)If yoursquore suspicious donrsquot reply to the email but instead call your supplier onthe number that you have on file to check the authenticity of the invoice
Ensure you have the latest anti-virus and security updates installed on yourcomputer and consider using high-level macro security settings in softwareapplicationsEnsure strong firewalls are in place to help detect malware and prevent dataleaving the network without permission This can be achieved throughinvesting in IT and seeking professional adviceConsider using a separate computer dedicated to making online payments tominimise security risks
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
14
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
What you can do
Use your common sense Is it likely that someone is selling a genuinedesigner item with a starting price of 99p and no reserve Check the sellerrsquosother items ndash are they selling multiple articles from the samedesigner Similarly be very wary of any items which come from Hong Kong orChina or other far-flung places Have you ever been to Hong Kong There arefake designer bags and wallets on every street cornerIf you are absolutely set on a particular bag then go to a department storewhich sells the genuine item and examine it very very carefully taking carefulnote of the position of the logos rivets and stitching Remember that a sellercan post a picture of the real bag on eBay and then sell you a fake so if youbuy collect in person and donrsquot part with the cash until you are certain you arein possession of the authentic item And take no notice if the seller is includingthe care card or the control card ndash these too can be easily faked
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
eBay was once fined pound30 million by aFrench court for allowing the sale of fakegoods eBay strive hard to eliminate fakesfrom the website and employ 2000 peoplespecifically to deal with this issue but withmore than 10 million goods for sale itrsquoshard to police effectively
If itrsquos designer goods that you are afterthen wersquore afraid there is always a risk thatyou are purchasing a fake However thereare certain steps you can take to make surethe article you are bidding for is thegenuine thing
If yoursquore selling on eBay on the other handwe can also help you with that here are 20handy tips for making more money oneBay
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM
HAVE YOU BEEN SCAMMED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS
LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF WITH THIS EASY GUIDE
Jasmine Birtles
If you have answered lsquonorsquo itrsquos likely that you are either staggeringly lucky or unaware of having had some cash taken from you by a clever fraudster
Scams are happening every minute and they are perpetrated by experienced and professional fraudsters whose job it is to steal money from other people
These frauds and scams are happening online and offline and there are many many ways that criminals can get at your cash now
But are we helpless to fight it
No
This book will give you the tools to protect yourself against scammers at home and abroad and even find out how to get your own back
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
TYPES OF SCAMS helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 6
Chapter 2
HOW TO SPOT A SCAM helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 7
Chapter 3
SCAMS GUIDEhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 8
Chapter 4
WORK AND BUSINESS - HOME WORKING SCAM helliphelliphelliphellip 9
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS - SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM hellip 10
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS - FAKE INVOICES SCAM helliphelliphelliphellip 12
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- FAKES helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 14
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- FAKE SHOPPING SITES helliphelliphellip 16
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- FREEBIES helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- HOTEL SCAM helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 19
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
CONTENTS
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD helliphellip 21
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDIA- FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo hellip 22
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA- TINY URL SCAM helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 23
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA- FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM helliphelliphelliphellip 24
Chapter 15
TAX- TAX EMAIL SCAM helliphelliphelliphellip 25
Chapter 16
TAX- SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC hellip 26
Chapter 17
FINANCE- BOILER ROOM SCAM helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 27
Chapter 18
FINANCE- SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS hellip 28
Chapter 19
FINANCE- INVESTMENT FRAUD hellip 29
Chapter 20
FINANCE- WESTERN UNION SCAM hellip 31
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
CONTENTS
Chapter 21
FINANCE- FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM hellip 32
Chapter 22
FINANCE- BANK TEXT SCAM hellip 34
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- PHONE SLAMMING hellip 36
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- CLAIRVOYANT SCAM 37
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM 39
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- CARD SKIMMING 40
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- ID THEFT helliphelliphelliphellip 42
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- PHISING AND SMISHING 45
Chapter 29
The Dark Web 46
6
Chapter 1
TYPES OF SCAMS
There are many different scams around and new ones being thought up pretty regularly but they tend to fall into a few basic categories
bull ID Theft ndash somebody takes on your identitybull Financial and investment scams ndash you are exploited through finance or
investment schemes which are fraudulentbull Impersonation scams ndash somebody pretends to be someone they are not
in order to scam youbull Authority scams ndash where either someone comes to your door pretending
to be a policeman who needs to check that you havenrsquot been burgledhellipthen burgles your home as he lsquolooks aroundrsquo or you get a lsquophishingrsquo email apparently from HMRC or another Government department telling you that you are owed a tax rebate or that you have to pay
bull Fakes ndash a medley of possible fraud based on faking an item for a consumer
bull Work scams This could be one of the various awful homeworking scams or more recently emails that say yoursquove been selected to do a great job and all you need is a bank account where some money will be lsquorestingrsquo
Note that most of these can happen online in fact oftentimes itrsquos easier and takes less effort for fraudsters to trick you on the web
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
7
Chapter 2
HOW TO SPOT A SCAM
Online and offline scams now happen more regularly than celebrities going into rehab so you should be on your guard more than ever
Oh and get your credit checked out if you have any concern that someone is using your ID for fraudulent purposes In fact itrsquos probably worth joining up one of those credit check services where for a monthly fee you can check your credit file any time day or night
We used to think that was just over-the-top but now wersquore all going to have to do it sooner or later to keep an eye on our accounts and stop this international criminal activity getting totally out of hand
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
8
Chapter 3
SCAMS GUIDE
To make things easier for you wersquove broken up this guide into 8 sections dealing with all areas of fraud and scam you might come across Handy if yoursquore looking to protect yourself from a particular type of con
Our sections are
1 Work and Business
2 Holiday and Leisure
3 Social Media
4 Tax
5 Finance
6 Telephone Classics
7 Personal Details and ID
8 The Dark Web
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
9
Chapter 4
WORK AND BUSINESS
HOME WORKING SCAM
According the Action Fraud ldquoThe scheme organiser will make you pay anadvance fee avoid paying you for the work yoursquove done make you buyworthless products or make you sign up others to the scheme before yoursquorepaidrdquoThese scams exploit you as a worker and make you think everything is worthyour while but it simply isnrsquot
What you can do
Donrsquot bother with envelope-stuffing schemes We havenrsquot found any that wereworth itDonrsquot go for anything that asks for payment upfront to join or get aninformation packCheck with this site and ask on the comments on articles like this one if yoursquorenot sure if something islegitimate or notRead our article on home-working scams here to find out the main types youcould be conned into doingThen check on our Make Money section for real ideas for making money fromhome
Herersquos Money-making ideas for the over 60rsquos and Online surveys Those arejust for starters
There are real ways you can make money from home but be very careful if itrsquossomething we havenrsquot recommended Ask us first if yoursquore in any doubt
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
You know what they say if itrsquos too good tobe truehellip
Yet thousands of people still get lured intoeasy money-making schemes throughoffers to start your own business fromhome or work from home
10
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
The scam
This scam was discovered by Financial Fraud Action UK Fraudsters are sendingspoof emails to workers impersonating senior members of the company suchas the finance director or chief executive They then ask the worker to transferthem money usually saying itrsquos an urgent circumstance such as itrsquos needed tosecure a new contract However of course the payment is made to thefraudsterrsquos account and they then withdraw the money straight awayWhatrsquos worrying is how convincing this scam can be Fraudsters use softwareto manipulate the characteristics of an email so it looks genuine ndash it includesthe correct senderrsquos address and looks like an email a worker really might getfrom a senior member of staff Sometimes fraudsters are even able to hack theactual accounts of members of staff often on web based servers The crooksare able to get all the details they need about the company from publiclyavailable information
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
11
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Finance Fraud Action UK has some top advice on avoiding thisscam
Always check any unusual payment requests directly ideally in person or bytelephone to confirm the instruction is genuine Do not use contact detailsfrom the emailEstablish a documented internal process for requesting and authorising allpayments and be suspicious of any request to make a payment outside of thecompanyrsquos standard processBe cautious about any unexpected emails which request urgent bank transferseven if the message appears to have originated from someone from your ownorganisationEnsure email passwords are robustConsider whether the email contains unusual language or is written in differentstyle to other emails from the sender
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoFraudsters will do all they can to make these scam emails look genuine so itrsquos important for businesses to be alert While an urgent request from the boss might naturally prompt a swift response it should in fact be a warning sign of a potential scam Thatrsquos why itrsquos vital that finance teams carefully check any unusual demands for payment through an alternative method such as over the phone or face to face before making the paymentrdquo
12
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
The scam
The scammers will send an invoicepretending to be from a legitimatecompany with a normal wordprocessing or spreadsheet documentattached
However to open it you will have toenable a macro (a set of pre-programmed instructions for acomputer) and this macro willdownload malicious software onto yourcomputer
This software will then monitor yourinternet usage and have access to allyour banking details ndash in fact it caninfect the whole of your businessnetwork
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Once it has your information it will send it back to the nasty criminals andtheyrsquoll help themselves to your hard-earned cash Unfortunately fraudstersare getting ever more sophisticated with their schemes making spottingpotential scams considerably harder
Scammers will try to use the same email address as a legitimate supplieruses ndash in some cases fraudsters even pretend to be a manager or colleague inthe same business to convince people to open the invoice
Also if yoursquore a freelancer and used to working through a lot of invoices whynot check out our top 5 Money Saving Hacks for Freelancers
13
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Financial Fraud Action UK have offered the following tips ndash
Be on the lookout for unexpected invoices or unusual payment requestsespecially those arriving in different file formats to normalAvoid enabling any macros on an untrusted document (Macros in themselvesare not dangerous and do serve a legitimate purpose ndash but they can be used tohide malware)If yoursquore suspicious donrsquot reply to the email but instead call your supplier onthe number that you have on file to check the authenticity of the invoice
Ensure you have the latest anti-virus and security updates installed on yourcomputer and consider using high-level macro security settings in softwareapplicationsEnsure strong firewalls are in place to help detect malware and prevent dataleaving the network without permission This can be achieved throughinvesting in IT and seeking professional adviceConsider using a separate computer dedicated to making online payments tominimise security risks
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
14
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
What you can do
Use your common sense Is it likely that someone is selling a genuinedesigner item with a starting price of 99p and no reserve Check the sellerrsquosother items ndash are they selling multiple articles from the samedesigner Similarly be very wary of any items which come from Hong Kong orChina or other far-flung places Have you ever been to Hong Kong There arefake designer bags and wallets on every street cornerIf you are absolutely set on a particular bag then go to a department storewhich sells the genuine item and examine it very very carefully taking carefulnote of the position of the logos rivets and stitching Remember that a sellercan post a picture of the real bag on eBay and then sell you a fake so if youbuy collect in person and donrsquot part with the cash until you are certain you arein possession of the authentic item And take no notice if the seller is includingthe care card or the control card ndash these too can be easily faked
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
eBay was once fined pound30 million by aFrench court for allowing the sale of fakegoods eBay strive hard to eliminate fakesfrom the website and employ 2000 peoplespecifically to deal with this issue but withmore than 10 million goods for sale itrsquoshard to police effectively
If itrsquos designer goods that you are afterthen wersquore afraid there is always a risk thatyou are purchasing a fake However thereare certain steps you can take to make surethe article you are bidding for is thegenuine thing
If yoursquore selling on eBay on the other handwe can also help you with that here are 20handy tips for making more money oneBay
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
TYPES OF SCAMS helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 6
Chapter 2
HOW TO SPOT A SCAM helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 7
Chapter 3
SCAMS GUIDEhelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 8
Chapter 4
WORK AND BUSINESS - HOME WORKING SCAM helliphelliphelliphellip 9
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS - SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM hellip 10
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS - FAKE INVOICES SCAM helliphelliphelliphellip 12
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- FAKES helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 14
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- FAKE SHOPPING SITES helliphelliphellip 16
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- FREEBIES helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- HOTEL SCAM helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 19
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
CONTENTS
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD helliphellip 21
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDIA- FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo hellip 22
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA- TINY URL SCAM helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 23
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA- FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM helliphelliphelliphellip 24
Chapter 15
TAX- TAX EMAIL SCAM helliphelliphelliphellip 25
Chapter 16
TAX- SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC hellip 26
Chapter 17
FINANCE- BOILER ROOM SCAM helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 27
Chapter 18
FINANCE- SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS hellip 28
Chapter 19
FINANCE- INVESTMENT FRAUD hellip 29
Chapter 20
FINANCE- WESTERN UNION SCAM hellip 31
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
CONTENTS
Chapter 21
FINANCE- FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM hellip 32
Chapter 22
FINANCE- BANK TEXT SCAM hellip 34
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- PHONE SLAMMING hellip 36
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- CLAIRVOYANT SCAM 37
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM 39
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- CARD SKIMMING 40
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- ID THEFT helliphelliphelliphellip 42
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- PHISING AND SMISHING 45
Chapter 29
The Dark Web 46
6
Chapter 1
TYPES OF SCAMS
There are many different scams around and new ones being thought up pretty regularly but they tend to fall into a few basic categories
bull ID Theft ndash somebody takes on your identitybull Financial and investment scams ndash you are exploited through finance or
investment schemes which are fraudulentbull Impersonation scams ndash somebody pretends to be someone they are not
in order to scam youbull Authority scams ndash where either someone comes to your door pretending
to be a policeman who needs to check that you havenrsquot been burgledhellipthen burgles your home as he lsquolooks aroundrsquo or you get a lsquophishingrsquo email apparently from HMRC or another Government department telling you that you are owed a tax rebate or that you have to pay
bull Fakes ndash a medley of possible fraud based on faking an item for a consumer
bull Work scams This could be one of the various awful homeworking scams or more recently emails that say yoursquove been selected to do a great job and all you need is a bank account where some money will be lsquorestingrsquo
Note that most of these can happen online in fact oftentimes itrsquos easier and takes less effort for fraudsters to trick you on the web
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
7
Chapter 2
HOW TO SPOT A SCAM
Online and offline scams now happen more regularly than celebrities going into rehab so you should be on your guard more than ever
Oh and get your credit checked out if you have any concern that someone is using your ID for fraudulent purposes In fact itrsquos probably worth joining up one of those credit check services where for a monthly fee you can check your credit file any time day or night
We used to think that was just over-the-top but now wersquore all going to have to do it sooner or later to keep an eye on our accounts and stop this international criminal activity getting totally out of hand
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
8
Chapter 3
SCAMS GUIDE
To make things easier for you wersquove broken up this guide into 8 sections dealing with all areas of fraud and scam you might come across Handy if yoursquore looking to protect yourself from a particular type of con
Our sections are
1 Work and Business
2 Holiday and Leisure
3 Social Media
4 Tax
5 Finance
6 Telephone Classics
7 Personal Details and ID
8 The Dark Web
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
9
Chapter 4
WORK AND BUSINESS
HOME WORKING SCAM
According the Action Fraud ldquoThe scheme organiser will make you pay anadvance fee avoid paying you for the work yoursquove done make you buyworthless products or make you sign up others to the scheme before yoursquorepaidrdquoThese scams exploit you as a worker and make you think everything is worthyour while but it simply isnrsquot
What you can do
Donrsquot bother with envelope-stuffing schemes We havenrsquot found any that wereworth itDonrsquot go for anything that asks for payment upfront to join or get aninformation packCheck with this site and ask on the comments on articles like this one if yoursquorenot sure if something islegitimate or notRead our article on home-working scams here to find out the main types youcould be conned into doingThen check on our Make Money section for real ideas for making money fromhome
Herersquos Money-making ideas for the over 60rsquos and Online surveys Those arejust for starters
There are real ways you can make money from home but be very careful if itrsquossomething we havenrsquot recommended Ask us first if yoursquore in any doubt
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
You know what they say if itrsquos too good tobe truehellip
Yet thousands of people still get lured intoeasy money-making schemes throughoffers to start your own business fromhome or work from home
10
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
The scam
This scam was discovered by Financial Fraud Action UK Fraudsters are sendingspoof emails to workers impersonating senior members of the company suchas the finance director or chief executive They then ask the worker to transferthem money usually saying itrsquos an urgent circumstance such as itrsquos needed tosecure a new contract However of course the payment is made to thefraudsterrsquos account and they then withdraw the money straight awayWhatrsquos worrying is how convincing this scam can be Fraudsters use softwareto manipulate the characteristics of an email so it looks genuine ndash it includesthe correct senderrsquos address and looks like an email a worker really might getfrom a senior member of staff Sometimes fraudsters are even able to hack theactual accounts of members of staff often on web based servers The crooksare able to get all the details they need about the company from publiclyavailable information
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
11
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Finance Fraud Action UK has some top advice on avoiding thisscam
Always check any unusual payment requests directly ideally in person or bytelephone to confirm the instruction is genuine Do not use contact detailsfrom the emailEstablish a documented internal process for requesting and authorising allpayments and be suspicious of any request to make a payment outside of thecompanyrsquos standard processBe cautious about any unexpected emails which request urgent bank transferseven if the message appears to have originated from someone from your ownorganisationEnsure email passwords are robustConsider whether the email contains unusual language or is written in differentstyle to other emails from the sender
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoFraudsters will do all they can to make these scam emails look genuine so itrsquos important for businesses to be alert While an urgent request from the boss might naturally prompt a swift response it should in fact be a warning sign of a potential scam Thatrsquos why itrsquos vital that finance teams carefully check any unusual demands for payment through an alternative method such as over the phone or face to face before making the paymentrdquo
12
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
The scam
The scammers will send an invoicepretending to be from a legitimatecompany with a normal wordprocessing or spreadsheet documentattached
However to open it you will have toenable a macro (a set of pre-programmed instructions for acomputer) and this macro willdownload malicious software onto yourcomputer
This software will then monitor yourinternet usage and have access to allyour banking details ndash in fact it caninfect the whole of your businessnetwork
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Once it has your information it will send it back to the nasty criminals andtheyrsquoll help themselves to your hard-earned cash Unfortunately fraudstersare getting ever more sophisticated with their schemes making spottingpotential scams considerably harder
Scammers will try to use the same email address as a legitimate supplieruses ndash in some cases fraudsters even pretend to be a manager or colleague inthe same business to convince people to open the invoice
Also if yoursquore a freelancer and used to working through a lot of invoices whynot check out our top 5 Money Saving Hacks for Freelancers
13
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Financial Fraud Action UK have offered the following tips ndash
Be on the lookout for unexpected invoices or unusual payment requestsespecially those arriving in different file formats to normalAvoid enabling any macros on an untrusted document (Macros in themselvesare not dangerous and do serve a legitimate purpose ndash but they can be used tohide malware)If yoursquore suspicious donrsquot reply to the email but instead call your supplier onthe number that you have on file to check the authenticity of the invoice
Ensure you have the latest anti-virus and security updates installed on yourcomputer and consider using high-level macro security settings in softwareapplicationsEnsure strong firewalls are in place to help detect malware and prevent dataleaving the network without permission This can be achieved throughinvesting in IT and seeking professional adviceConsider using a separate computer dedicated to making online payments tominimise security risks
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
14
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
What you can do
Use your common sense Is it likely that someone is selling a genuinedesigner item with a starting price of 99p and no reserve Check the sellerrsquosother items ndash are they selling multiple articles from the samedesigner Similarly be very wary of any items which come from Hong Kong orChina or other far-flung places Have you ever been to Hong Kong There arefake designer bags and wallets on every street cornerIf you are absolutely set on a particular bag then go to a department storewhich sells the genuine item and examine it very very carefully taking carefulnote of the position of the logos rivets and stitching Remember that a sellercan post a picture of the real bag on eBay and then sell you a fake so if youbuy collect in person and donrsquot part with the cash until you are certain you arein possession of the authentic item And take no notice if the seller is includingthe care card or the control card ndash these too can be easily faked
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
eBay was once fined pound30 million by aFrench court for allowing the sale of fakegoods eBay strive hard to eliminate fakesfrom the website and employ 2000 peoplespecifically to deal with this issue but withmore than 10 million goods for sale itrsquoshard to police effectively
If itrsquos designer goods that you are afterthen wersquore afraid there is always a risk thatyou are purchasing a fake However thereare certain steps you can take to make surethe article you are bidding for is thegenuine thing
If yoursquore selling on eBay on the other handwe can also help you with that here are 20handy tips for making more money oneBay
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
CONTENTS
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE- HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD helliphellip 21
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDIA- FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo hellip 22
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA- TINY URL SCAM helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 23
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA- FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM helliphelliphelliphellip 24
Chapter 15
TAX- TAX EMAIL SCAM helliphelliphelliphellip 25
Chapter 16
TAX- SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC hellip 26
Chapter 17
FINANCE- BOILER ROOM SCAM helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip 27
Chapter 18
FINANCE- SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS hellip 28
Chapter 19
FINANCE- INVESTMENT FRAUD hellip 29
Chapter 20
FINANCE- WESTERN UNION SCAM hellip 31
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
CONTENTS
Chapter 21
FINANCE- FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM hellip 32
Chapter 22
FINANCE- BANK TEXT SCAM hellip 34
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- PHONE SLAMMING hellip 36
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- CLAIRVOYANT SCAM 37
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM 39
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- CARD SKIMMING 40
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- ID THEFT helliphelliphelliphellip 42
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- PHISING AND SMISHING 45
Chapter 29
The Dark Web 46
6
Chapter 1
TYPES OF SCAMS
There are many different scams around and new ones being thought up pretty regularly but they tend to fall into a few basic categories
bull ID Theft ndash somebody takes on your identitybull Financial and investment scams ndash you are exploited through finance or
investment schemes which are fraudulentbull Impersonation scams ndash somebody pretends to be someone they are not
in order to scam youbull Authority scams ndash where either someone comes to your door pretending
to be a policeman who needs to check that you havenrsquot been burgledhellipthen burgles your home as he lsquolooks aroundrsquo or you get a lsquophishingrsquo email apparently from HMRC or another Government department telling you that you are owed a tax rebate or that you have to pay
bull Fakes ndash a medley of possible fraud based on faking an item for a consumer
bull Work scams This could be one of the various awful homeworking scams or more recently emails that say yoursquove been selected to do a great job and all you need is a bank account where some money will be lsquorestingrsquo
Note that most of these can happen online in fact oftentimes itrsquos easier and takes less effort for fraudsters to trick you on the web
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
7
Chapter 2
HOW TO SPOT A SCAM
Online and offline scams now happen more regularly than celebrities going into rehab so you should be on your guard more than ever
Oh and get your credit checked out if you have any concern that someone is using your ID for fraudulent purposes In fact itrsquos probably worth joining up one of those credit check services where for a monthly fee you can check your credit file any time day or night
We used to think that was just over-the-top but now wersquore all going to have to do it sooner or later to keep an eye on our accounts and stop this international criminal activity getting totally out of hand
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
8
Chapter 3
SCAMS GUIDE
To make things easier for you wersquove broken up this guide into 8 sections dealing with all areas of fraud and scam you might come across Handy if yoursquore looking to protect yourself from a particular type of con
Our sections are
1 Work and Business
2 Holiday and Leisure
3 Social Media
4 Tax
5 Finance
6 Telephone Classics
7 Personal Details and ID
8 The Dark Web
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
9
Chapter 4
WORK AND BUSINESS
HOME WORKING SCAM
According the Action Fraud ldquoThe scheme organiser will make you pay anadvance fee avoid paying you for the work yoursquove done make you buyworthless products or make you sign up others to the scheme before yoursquorepaidrdquoThese scams exploit you as a worker and make you think everything is worthyour while but it simply isnrsquot
What you can do
Donrsquot bother with envelope-stuffing schemes We havenrsquot found any that wereworth itDonrsquot go for anything that asks for payment upfront to join or get aninformation packCheck with this site and ask on the comments on articles like this one if yoursquorenot sure if something islegitimate or notRead our article on home-working scams here to find out the main types youcould be conned into doingThen check on our Make Money section for real ideas for making money fromhome
Herersquos Money-making ideas for the over 60rsquos and Online surveys Those arejust for starters
There are real ways you can make money from home but be very careful if itrsquossomething we havenrsquot recommended Ask us first if yoursquore in any doubt
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
You know what they say if itrsquos too good tobe truehellip
Yet thousands of people still get lured intoeasy money-making schemes throughoffers to start your own business fromhome or work from home
10
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
The scam
This scam was discovered by Financial Fraud Action UK Fraudsters are sendingspoof emails to workers impersonating senior members of the company suchas the finance director or chief executive They then ask the worker to transferthem money usually saying itrsquos an urgent circumstance such as itrsquos needed tosecure a new contract However of course the payment is made to thefraudsterrsquos account and they then withdraw the money straight awayWhatrsquos worrying is how convincing this scam can be Fraudsters use softwareto manipulate the characteristics of an email so it looks genuine ndash it includesthe correct senderrsquos address and looks like an email a worker really might getfrom a senior member of staff Sometimes fraudsters are even able to hack theactual accounts of members of staff often on web based servers The crooksare able to get all the details they need about the company from publiclyavailable information
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
11
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Finance Fraud Action UK has some top advice on avoiding thisscam
Always check any unusual payment requests directly ideally in person or bytelephone to confirm the instruction is genuine Do not use contact detailsfrom the emailEstablish a documented internal process for requesting and authorising allpayments and be suspicious of any request to make a payment outside of thecompanyrsquos standard processBe cautious about any unexpected emails which request urgent bank transferseven if the message appears to have originated from someone from your ownorganisationEnsure email passwords are robustConsider whether the email contains unusual language or is written in differentstyle to other emails from the sender
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoFraudsters will do all they can to make these scam emails look genuine so itrsquos important for businesses to be alert While an urgent request from the boss might naturally prompt a swift response it should in fact be a warning sign of a potential scam Thatrsquos why itrsquos vital that finance teams carefully check any unusual demands for payment through an alternative method such as over the phone or face to face before making the paymentrdquo
12
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
The scam
The scammers will send an invoicepretending to be from a legitimatecompany with a normal wordprocessing or spreadsheet documentattached
However to open it you will have toenable a macro (a set of pre-programmed instructions for acomputer) and this macro willdownload malicious software onto yourcomputer
This software will then monitor yourinternet usage and have access to allyour banking details ndash in fact it caninfect the whole of your businessnetwork
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Once it has your information it will send it back to the nasty criminals andtheyrsquoll help themselves to your hard-earned cash Unfortunately fraudstersare getting ever more sophisticated with their schemes making spottingpotential scams considerably harder
Scammers will try to use the same email address as a legitimate supplieruses ndash in some cases fraudsters even pretend to be a manager or colleague inthe same business to convince people to open the invoice
Also if yoursquore a freelancer and used to working through a lot of invoices whynot check out our top 5 Money Saving Hacks for Freelancers
13
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Financial Fraud Action UK have offered the following tips ndash
Be on the lookout for unexpected invoices or unusual payment requestsespecially those arriving in different file formats to normalAvoid enabling any macros on an untrusted document (Macros in themselvesare not dangerous and do serve a legitimate purpose ndash but they can be used tohide malware)If yoursquore suspicious donrsquot reply to the email but instead call your supplier onthe number that you have on file to check the authenticity of the invoice
Ensure you have the latest anti-virus and security updates installed on yourcomputer and consider using high-level macro security settings in softwareapplicationsEnsure strong firewalls are in place to help detect malware and prevent dataleaving the network without permission This can be achieved throughinvesting in IT and seeking professional adviceConsider using a separate computer dedicated to making online payments tominimise security risks
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
14
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
What you can do
Use your common sense Is it likely that someone is selling a genuinedesigner item with a starting price of 99p and no reserve Check the sellerrsquosother items ndash are they selling multiple articles from the samedesigner Similarly be very wary of any items which come from Hong Kong orChina or other far-flung places Have you ever been to Hong Kong There arefake designer bags and wallets on every street cornerIf you are absolutely set on a particular bag then go to a department storewhich sells the genuine item and examine it very very carefully taking carefulnote of the position of the logos rivets and stitching Remember that a sellercan post a picture of the real bag on eBay and then sell you a fake so if youbuy collect in person and donrsquot part with the cash until you are certain you arein possession of the authentic item And take no notice if the seller is includingthe care card or the control card ndash these too can be easily faked
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
eBay was once fined pound30 million by aFrench court for allowing the sale of fakegoods eBay strive hard to eliminate fakesfrom the website and employ 2000 peoplespecifically to deal with this issue but withmore than 10 million goods for sale itrsquoshard to police effectively
If itrsquos designer goods that you are afterthen wersquore afraid there is always a risk thatyou are purchasing a fake However thereare certain steps you can take to make surethe article you are bidding for is thegenuine thing
If yoursquore selling on eBay on the other handwe can also help you with that here are 20handy tips for making more money oneBay
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
CONTENTS
Chapter 21
FINANCE- FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM hellip 32
Chapter 22
FINANCE- BANK TEXT SCAM hellip 34
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- PHONE SLAMMING hellip 36
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- CLAIRVOYANT SCAM 37
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS- NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM 39
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- CARD SKIMMING 40
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- ID THEFT helliphelliphelliphellip 42
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID- PHISING AND SMISHING 45
Chapter 29
The Dark Web 46
6
Chapter 1
TYPES OF SCAMS
There are many different scams around and new ones being thought up pretty regularly but they tend to fall into a few basic categories
bull ID Theft ndash somebody takes on your identitybull Financial and investment scams ndash you are exploited through finance or
investment schemes which are fraudulentbull Impersonation scams ndash somebody pretends to be someone they are not
in order to scam youbull Authority scams ndash where either someone comes to your door pretending
to be a policeman who needs to check that you havenrsquot been burgledhellipthen burgles your home as he lsquolooks aroundrsquo or you get a lsquophishingrsquo email apparently from HMRC or another Government department telling you that you are owed a tax rebate or that you have to pay
bull Fakes ndash a medley of possible fraud based on faking an item for a consumer
bull Work scams This could be one of the various awful homeworking scams or more recently emails that say yoursquove been selected to do a great job and all you need is a bank account where some money will be lsquorestingrsquo
Note that most of these can happen online in fact oftentimes itrsquos easier and takes less effort for fraudsters to trick you on the web
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
7
Chapter 2
HOW TO SPOT A SCAM
Online and offline scams now happen more regularly than celebrities going into rehab so you should be on your guard more than ever
Oh and get your credit checked out if you have any concern that someone is using your ID for fraudulent purposes In fact itrsquos probably worth joining up one of those credit check services where for a monthly fee you can check your credit file any time day or night
We used to think that was just over-the-top but now wersquore all going to have to do it sooner or later to keep an eye on our accounts and stop this international criminal activity getting totally out of hand
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
8
Chapter 3
SCAMS GUIDE
To make things easier for you wersquove broken up this guide into 8 sections dealing with all areas of fraud and scam you might come across Handy if yoursquore looking to protect yourself from a particular type of con
Our sections are
1 Work and Business
2 Holiday and Leisure
3 Social Media
4 Tax
5 Finance
6 Telephone Classics
7 Personal Details and ID
8 The Dark Web
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
9
Chapter 4
WORK AND BUSINESS
HOME WORKING SCAM
According the Action Fraud ldquoThe scheme organiser will make you pay anadvance fee avoid paying you for the work yoursquove done make you buyworthless products or make you sign up others to the scheme before yoursquorepaidrdquoThese scams exploit you as a worker and make you think everything is worthyour while but it simply isnrsquot
What you can do
Donrsquot bother with envelope-stuffing schemes We havenrsquot found any that wereworth itDonrsquot go for anything that asks for payment upfront to join or get aninformation packCheck with this site and ask on the comments on articles like this one if yoursquorenot sure if something islegitimate or notRead our article on home-working scams here to find out the main types youcould be conned into doingThen check on our Make Money section for real ideas for making money fromhome
Herersquos Money-making ideas for the over 60rsquos and Online surveys Those arejust for starters
There are real ways you can make money from home but be very careful if itrsquossomething we havenrsquot recommended Ask us first if yoursquore in any doubt
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
You know what they say if itrsquos too good tobe truehellip
Yet thousands of people still get lured intoeasy money-making schemes throughoffers to start your own business fromhome or work from home
10
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
The scam
This scam was discovered by Financial Fraud Action UK Fraudsters are sendingspoof emails to workers impersonating senior members of the company suchas the finance director or chief executive They then ask the worker to transferthem money usually saying itrsquos an urgent circumstance such as itrsquos needed tosecure a new contract However of course the payment is made to thefraudsterrsquos account and they then withdraw the money straight awayWhatrsquos worrying is how convincing this scam can be Fraudsters use softwareto manipulate the characteristics of an email so it looks genuine ndash it includesthe correct senderrsquos address and looks like an email a worker really might getfrom a senior member of staff Sometimes fraudsters are even able to hack theactual accounts of members of staff often on web based servers The crooksare able to get all the details they need about the company from publiclyavailable information
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
11
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Finance Fraud Action UK has some top advice on avoiding thisscam
Always check any unusual payment requests directly ideally in person or bytelephone to confirm the instruction is genuine Do not use contact detailsfrom the emailEstablish a documented internal process for requesting and authorising allpayments and be suspicious of any request to make a payment outside of thecompanyrsquos standard processBe cautious about any unexpected emails which request urgent bank transferseven if the message appears to have originated from someone from your ownorganisationEnsure email passwords are robustConsider whether the email contains unusual language or is written in differentstyle to other emails from the sender
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoFraudsters will do all they can to make these scam emails look genuine so itrsquos important for businesses to be alert While an urgent request from the boss might naturally prompt a swift response it should in fact be a warning sign of a potential scam Thatrsquos why itrsquos vital that finance teams carefully check any unusual demands for payment through an alternative method such as over the phone or face to face before making the paymentrdquo
12
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
The scam
The scammers will send an invoicepretending to be from a legitimatecompany with a normal wordprocessing or spreadsheet documentattached
However to open it you will have toenable a macro (a set of pre-programmed instructions for acomputer) and this macro willdownload malicious software onto yourcomputer
This software will then monitor yourinternet usage and have access to allyour banking details ndash in fact it caninfect the whole of your businessnetwork
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Once it has your information it will send it back to the nasty criminals andtheyrsquoll help themselves to your hard-earned cash Unfortunately fraudstersare getting ever more sophisticated with their schemes making spottingpotential scams considerably harder
Scammers will try to use the same email address as a legitimate supplieruses ndash in some cases fraudsters even pretend to be a manager or colleague inthe same business to convince people to open the invoice
Also if yoursquore a freelancer and used to working through a lot of invoices whynot check out our top 5 Money Saving Hacks for Freelancers
13
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Financial Fraud Action UK have offered the following tips ndash
Be on the lookout for unexpected invoices or unusual payment requestsespecially those arriving in different file formats to normalAvoid enabling any macros on an untrusted document (Macros in themselvesare not dangerous and do serve a legitimate purpose ndash but they can be used tohide malware)If yoursquore suspicious donrsquot reply to the email but instead call your supplier onthe number that you have on file to check the authenticity of the invoice
Ensure you have the latest anti-virus and security updates installed on yourcomputer and consider using high-level macro security settings in softwareapplicationsEnsure strong firewalls are in place to help detect malware and prevent dataleaving the network without permission This can be achieved throughinvesting in IT and seeking professional adviceConsider using a separate computer dedicated to making online payments tominimise security risks
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
14
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
What you can do
Use your common sense Is it likely that someone is selling a genuinedesigner item with a starting price of 99p and no reserve Check the sellerrsquosother items ndash are they selling multiple articles from the samedesigner Similarly be very wary of any items which come from Hong Kong orChina or other far-flung places Have you ever been to Hong Kong There arefake designer bags and wallets on every street cornerIf you are absolutely set on a particular bag then go to a department storewhich sells the genuine item and examine it very very carefully taking carefulnote of the position of the logos rivets and stitching Remember that a sellercan post a picture of the real bag on eBay and then sell you a fake so if youbuy collect in person and donrsquot part with the cash until you are certain you arein possession of the authentic item And take no notice if the seller is includingthe care card or the control card ndash these too can be easily faked
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
eBay was once fined pound30 million by aFrench court for allowing the sale of fakegoods eBay strive hard to eliminate fakesfrom the website and employ 2000 peoplespecifically to deal with this issue but withmore than 10 million goods for sale itrsquoshard to police effectively
If itrsquos designer goods that you are afterthen wersquore afraid there is always a risk thatyou are purchasing a fake However thereare certain steps you can take to make surethe article you are bidding for is thegenuine thing
If yoursquore selling on eBay on the other handwe can also help you with that here are 20handy tips for making more money oneBay
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
6
Chapter 1
TYPES OF SCAMS
There are many different scams around and new ones being thought up pretty regularly but they tend to fall into a few basic categories
bull ID Theft ndash somebody takes on your identitybull Financial and investment scams ndash you are exploited through finance or
investment schemes which are fraudulentbull Impersonation scams ndash somebody pretends to be someone they are not
in order to scam youbull Authority scams ndash where either someone comes to your door pretending
to be a policeman who needs to check that you havenrsquot been burgledhellipthen burgles your home as he lsquolooks aroundrsquo or you get a lsquophishingrsquo email apparently from HMRC or another Government department telling you that you are owed a tax rebate or that you have to pay
bull Fakes ndash a medley of possible fraud based on faking an item for a consumer
bull Work scams This could be one of the various awful homeworking scams or more recently emails that say yoursquove been selected to do a great job and all you need is a bank account where some money will be lsquorestingrsquo
Note that most of these can happen online in fact oftentimes itrsquos easier and takes less effort for fraudsters to trick you on the web
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
7
Chapter 2
HOW TO SPOT A SCAM
Online and offline scams now happen more regularly than celebrities going into rehab so you should be on your guard more than ever
Oh and get your credit checked out if you have any concern that someone is using your ID for fraudulent purposes In fact itrsquos probably worth joining up one of those credit check services where for a monthly fee you can check your credit file any time day or night
We used to think that was just over-the-top but now wersquore all going to have to do it sooner or later to keep an eye on our accounts and stop this international criminal activity getting totally out of hand
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
8
Chapter 3
SCAMS GUIDE
To make things easier for you wersquove broken up this guide into 8 sections dealing with all areas of fraud and scam you might come across Handy if yoursquore looking to protect yourself from a particular type of con
Our sections are
1 Work and Business
2 Holiday and Leisure
3 Social Media
4 Tax
5 Finance
6 Telephone Classics
7 Personal Details and ID
8 The Dark Web
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
9
Chapter 4
WORK AND BUSINESS
HOME WORKING SCAM
According the Action Fraud ldquoThe scheme organiser will make you pay anadvance fee avoid paying you for the work yoursquove done make you buyworthless products or make you sign up others to the scheme before yoursquorepaidrdquoThese scams exploit you as a worker and make you think everything is worthyour while but it simply isnrsquot
What you can do
Donrsquot bother with envelope-stuffing schemes We havenrsquot found any that wereworth itDonrsquot go for anything that asks for payment upfront to join or get aninformation packCheck with this site and ask on the comments on articles like this one if yoursquorenot sure if something islegitimate or notRead our article on home-working scams here to find out the main types youcould be conned into doingThen check on our Make Money section for real ideas for making money fromhome
Herersquos Money-making ideas for the over 60rsquos and Online surveys Those arejust for starters
There are real ways you can make money from home but be very careful if itrsquossomething we havenrsquot recommended Ask us first if yoursquore in any doubt
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
You know what they say if itrsquos too good tobe truehellip
Yet thousands of people still get lured intoeasy money-making schemes throughoffers to start your own business fromhome or work from home
10
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
The scam
This scam was discovered by Financial Fraud Action UK Fraudsters are sendingspoof emails to workers impersonating senior members of the company suchas the finance director or chief executive They then ask the worker to transferthem money usually saying itrsquos an urgent circumstance such as itrsquos needed tosecure a new contract However of course the payment is made to thefraudsterrsquos account and they then withdraw the money straight awayWhatrsquos worrying is how convincing this scam can be Fraudsters use softwareto manipulate the characteristics of an email so it looks genuine ndash it includesthe correct senderrsquos address and looks like an email a worker really might getfrom a senior member of staff Sometimes fraudsters are even able to hack theactual accounts of members of staff often on web based servers The crooksare able to get all the details they need about the company from publiclyavailable information
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
11
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Finance Fraud Action UK has some top advice on avoiding thisscam
Always check any unusual payment requests directly ideally in person or bytelephone to confirm the instruction is genuine Do not use contact detailsfrom the emailEstablish a documented internal process for requesting and authorising allpayments and be suspicious of any request to make a payment outside of thecompanyrsquos standard processBe cautious about any unexpected emails which request urgent bank transferseven if the message appears to have originated from someone from your ownorganisationEnsure email passwords are robustConsider whether the email contains unusual language or is written in differentstyle to other emails from the sender
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoFraudsters will do all they can to make these scam emails look genuine so itrsquos important for businesses to be alert While an urgent request from the boss might naturally prompt a swift response it should in fact be a warning sign of a potential scam Thatrsquos why itrsquos vital that finance teams carefully check any unusual demands for payment through an alternative method such as over the phone or face to face before making the paymentrdquo
12
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
The scam
The scammers will send an invoicepretending to be from a legitimatecompany with a normal wordprocessing or spreadsheet documentattached
However to open it you will have toenable a macro (a set of pre-programmed instructions for acomputer) and this macro willdownload malicious software onto yourcomputer
This software will then monitor yourinternet usage and have access to allyour banking details ndash in fact it caninfect the whole of your businessnetwork
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Once it has your information it will send it back to the nasty criminals andtheyrsquoll help themselves to your hard-earned cash Unfortunately fraudstersare getting ever more sophisticated with their schemes making spottingpotential scams considerably harder
Scammers will try to use the same email address as a legitimate supplieruses ndash in some cases fraudsters even pretend to be a manager or colleague inthe same business to convince people to open the invoice
Also if yoursquore a freelancer and used to working through a lot of invoices whynot check out our top 5 Money Saving Hacks for Freelancers
13
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Financial Fraud Action UK have offered the following tips ndash
Be on the lookout for unexpected invoices or unusual payment requestsespecially those arriving in different file formats to normalAvoid enabling any macros on an untrusted document (Macros in themselvesare not dangerous and do serve a legitimate purpose ndash but they can be used tohide malware)If yoursquore suspicious donrsquot reply to the email but instead call your supplier onthe number that you have on file to check the authenticity of the invoice
Ensure you have the latest anti-virus and security updates installed on yourcomputer and consider using high-level macro security settings in softwareapplicationsEnsure strong firewalls are in place to help detect malware and prevent dataleaving the network without permission This can be achieved throughinvesting in IT and seeking professional adviceConsider using a separate computer dedicated to making online payments tominimise security risks
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
14
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
What you can do
Use your common sense Is it likely that someone is selling a genuinedesigner item with a starting price of 99p and no reserve Check the sellerrsquosother items ndash are they selling multiple articles from the samedesigner Similarly be very wary of any items which come from Hong Kong orChina or other far-flung places Have you ever been to Hong Kong There arefake designer bags and wallets on every street cornerIf you are absolutely set on a particular bag then go to a department storewhich sells the genuine item and examine it very very carefully taking carefulnote of the position of the logos rivets and stitching Remember that a sellercan post a picture of the real bag on eBay and then sell you a fake so if youbuy collect in person and donrsquot part with the cash until you are certain you arein possession of the authentic item And take no notice if the seller is includingthe care card or the control card ndash these too can be easily faked
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
eBay was once fined pound30 million by aFrench court for allowing the sale of fakegoods eBay strive hard to eliminate fakesfrom the website and employ 2000 peoplespecifically to deal with this issue but withmore than 10 million goods for sale itrsquoshard to police effectively
If itrsquos designer goods that you are afterthen wersquore afraid there is always a risk thatyou are purchasing a fake However thereare certain steps you can take to make surethe article you are bidding for is thegenuine thing
If yoursquore selling on eBay on the other handwe can also help you with that here are 20handy tips for making more money oneBay
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
7
Chapter 2
HOW TO SPOT A SCAM
Online and offline scams now happen more regularly than celebrities going into rehab so you should be on your guard more than ever
Oh and get your credit checked out if you have any concern that someone is using your ID for fraudulent purposes In fact itrsquos probably worth joining up one of those credit check services where for a monthly fee you can check your credit file any time day or night
We used to think that was just over-the-top but now wersquore all going to have to do it sooner or later to keep an eye on our accounts and stop this international criminal activity getting totally out of hand
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
8
Chapter 3
SCAMS GUIDE
To make things easier for you wersquove broken up this guide into 8 sections dealing with all areas of fraud and scam you might come across Handy if yoursquore looking to protect yourself from a particular type of con
Our sections are
1 Work and Business
2 Holiday and Leisure
3 Social Media
4 Tax
5 Finance
6 Telephone Classics
7 Personal Details and ID
8 The Dark Web
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
9
Chapter 4
WORK AND BUSINESS
HOME WORKING SCAM
According the Action Fraud ldquoThe scheme organiser will make you pay anadvance fee avoid paying you for the work yoursquove done make you buyworthless products or make you sign up others to the scheme before yoursquorepaidrdquoThese scams exploit you as a worker and make you think everything is worthyour while but it simply isnrsquot
What you can do
Donrsquot bother with envelope-stuffing schemes We havenrsquot found any that wereworth itDonrsquot go for anything that asks for payment upfront to join or get aninformation packCheck with this site and ask on the comments on articles like this one if yoursquorenot sure if something islegitimate or notRead our article on home-working scams here to find out the main types youcould be conned into doingThen check on our Make Money section for real ideas for making money fromhome
Herersquos Money-making ideas for the over 60rsquos and Online surveys Those arejust for starters
There are real ways you can make money from home but be very careful if itrsquossomething we havenrsquot recommended Ask us first if yoursquore in any doubt
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
You know what they say if itrsquos too good tobe truehellip
Yet thousands of people still get lured intoeasy money-making schemes throughoffers to start your own business fromhome or work from home
10
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
The scam
This scam was discovered by Financial Fraud Action UK Fraudsters are sendingspoof emails to workers impersonating senior members of the company suchas the finance director or chief executive They then ask the worker to transferthem money usually saying itrsquos an urgent circumstance such as itrsquos needed tosecure a new contract However of course the payment is made to thefraudsterrsquos account and they then withdraw the money straight awayWhatrsquos worrying is how convincing this scam can be Fraudsters use softwareto manipulate the characteristics of an email so it looks genuine ndash it includesthe correct senderrsquos address and looks like an email a worker really might getfrom a senior member of staff Sometimes fraudsters are even able to hack theactual accounts of members of staff often on web based servers The crooksare able to get all the details they need about the company from publiclyavailable information
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
11
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Finance Fraud Action UK has some top advice on avoiding thisscam
Always check any unusual payment requests directly ideally in person or bytelephone to confirm the instruction is genuine Do not use contact detailsfrom the emailEstablish a documented internal process for requesting and authorising allpayments and be suspicious of any request to make a payment outside of thecompanyrsquos standard processBe cautious about any unexpected emails which request urgent bank transferseven if the message appears to have originated from someone from your ownorganisationEnsure email passwords are robustConsider whether the email contains unusual language or is written in differentstyle to other emails from the sender
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoFraudsters will do all they can to make these scam emails look genuine so itrsquos important for businesses to be alert While an urgent request from the boss might naturally prompt a swift response it should in fact be a warning sign of a potential scam Thatrsquos why itrsquos vital that finance teams carefully check any unusual demands for payment through an alternative method such as over the phone or face to face before making the paymentrdquo
12
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
The scam
The scammers will send an invoicepretending to be from a legitimatecompany with a normal wordprocessing or spreadsheet documentattached
However to open it you will have toenable a macro (a set of pre-programmed instructions for acomputer) and this macro willdownload malicious software onto yourcomputer
This software will then monitor yourinternet usage and have access to allyour banking details ndash in fact it caninfect the whole of your businessnetwork
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Once it has your information it will send it back to the nasty criminals andtheyrsquoll help themselves to your hard-earned cash Unfortunately fraudstersare getting ever more sophisticated with their schemes making spottingpotential scams considerably harder
Scammers will try to use the same email address as a legitimate supplieruses ndash in some cases fraudsters even pretend to be a manager or colleague inthe same business to convince people to open the invoice
Also if yoursquore a freelancer and used to working through a lot of invoices whynot check out our top 5 Money Saving Hacks for Freelancers
13
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Financial Fraud Action UK have offered the following tips ndash
Be on the lookout for unexpected invoices or unusual payment requestsespecially those arriving in different file formats to normalAvoid enabling any macros on an untrusted document (Macros in themselvesare not dangerous and do serve a legitimate purpose ndash but they can be used tohide malware)If yoursquore suspicious donrsquot reply to the email but instead call your supplier onthe number that you have on file to check the authenticity of the invoice
Ensure you have the latest anti-virus and security updates installed on yourcomputer and consider using high-level macro security settings in softwareapplicationsEnsure strong firewalls are in place to help detect malware and prevent dataleaving the network without permission This can be achieved throughinvesting in IT and seeking professional adviceConsider using a separate computer dedicated to making online payments tominimise security risks
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
14
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
What you can do
Use your common sense Is it likely that someone is selling a genuinedesigner item with a starting price of 99p and no reserve Check the sellerrsquosother items ndash are they selling multiple articles from the samedesigner Similarly be very wary of any items which come from Hong Kong orChina or other far-flung places Have you ever been to Hong Kong There arefake designer bags and wallets on every street cornerIf you are absolutely set on a particular bag then go to a department storewhich sells the genuine item and examine it very very carefully taking carefulnote of the position of the logos rivets and stitching Remember that a sellercan post a picture of the real bag on eBay and then sell you a fake so if youbuy collect in person and donrsquot part with the cash until you are certain you arein possession of the authentic item And take no notice if the seller is includingthe care card or the control card ndash these too can be easily faked
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
eBay was once fined pound30 million by aFrench court for allowing the sale of fakegoods eBay strive hard to eliminate fakesfrom the website and employ 2000 peoplespecifically to deal with this issue but withmore than 10 million goods for sale itrsquoshard to police effectively
If itrsquos designer goods that you are afterthen wersquore afraid there is always a risk thatyou are purchasing a fake However thereare certain steps you can take to make surethe article you are bidding for is thegenuine thing
If yoursquore selling on eBay on the other handwe can also help you with that here are 20handy tips for making more money oneBay
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
8
Chapter 3
SCAMS GUIDE
To make things easier for you wersquove broken up this guide into 8 sections dealing with all areas of fraud and scam you might come across Handy if yoursquore looking to protect yourself from a particular type of con
Our sections are
1 Work and Business
2 Holiday and Leisure
3 Social Media
4 Tax
5 Finance
6 Telephone Classics
7 Personal Details and ID
8 The Dark Web
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
9
Chapter 4
WORK AND BUSINESS
HOME WORKING SCAM
According the Action Fraud ldquoThe scheme organiser will make you pay anadvance fee avoid paying you for the work yoursquove done make you buyworthless products or make you sign up others to the scheme before yoursquorepaidrdquoThese scams exploit you as a worker and make you think everything is worthyour while but it simply isnrsquot
What you can do
Donrsquot bother with envelope-stuffing schemes We havenrsquot found any that wereworth itDonrsquot go for anything that asks for payment upfront to join or get aninformation packCheck with this site and ask on the comments on articles like this one if yoursquorenot sure if something islegitimate or notRead our article on home-working scams here to find out the main types youcould be conned into doingThen check on our Make Money section for real ideas for making money fromhome
Herersquos Money-making ideas for the over 60rsquos and Online surveys Those arejust for starters
There are real ways you can make money from home but be very careful if itrsquossomething we havenrsquot recommended Ask us first if yoursquore in any doubt
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
You know what they say if itrsquos too good tobe truehellip
Yet thousands of people still get lured intoeasy money-making schemes throughoffers to start your own business fromhome or work from home
10
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
The scam
This scam was discovered by Financial Fraud Action UK Fraudsters are sendingspoof emails to workers impersonating senior members of the company suchas the finance director or chief executive They then ask the worker to transferthem money usually saying itrsquos an urgent circumstance such as itrsquos needed tosecure a new contract However of course the payment is made to thefraudsterrsquos account and they then withdraw the money straight awayWhatrsquos worrying is how convincing this scam can be Fraudsters use softwareto manipulate the characteristics of an email so it looks genuine ndash it includesthe correct senderrsquos address and looks like an email a worker really might getfrom a senior member of staff Sometimes fraudsters are even able to hack theactual accounts of members of staff often on web based servers The crooksare able to get all the details they need about the company from publiclyavailable information
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
11
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Finance Fraud Action UK has some top advice on avoiding thisscam
Always check any unusual payment requests directly ideally in person or bytelephone to confirm the instruction is genuine Do not use contact detailsfrom the emailEstablish a documented internal process for requesting and authorising allpayments and be suspicious of any request to make a payment outside of thecompanyrsquos standard processBe cautious about any unexpected emails which request urgent bank transferseven if the message appears to have originated from someone from your ownorganisationEnsure email passwords are robustConsider whether the email contains unusual language or is written in differentstyle to other emails from the sender
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoFraudsters will do all they can to make these scam emails look genuine so itrsquos important for businesses to be alert While an urgent request from the boss might naturally prompt a swift response it should in fact be a warning sign of a potential scam Thatrsquos why itrsquos vital that finance teams carefully check any unusual demands for payment through an alternative method such as over the phone or face to face before making the paymentrdquo
12
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
The scam
The scammers will send an invoicepretending to be from a legitimatecompany with a normal wordprocessing or spreadsheet documentattached
However to open it you will have toenable a macro (a set of pre-programmed instructions for acomputer) and this macro willdownload malicious software onto yourcomputer
This software will then monitor yourinternet usage and have access to allyour banking details ndash in fact it caninfect the whole of your businessnetwork
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Once it has your information it will send it back to the nasty criminals andtheyrsquoll help themselves to your hard-earned cash Unfortunately fraudstersare getting ever more sophisticated with their schemes making spottingpotential scams considerably harder
Scammers will try to use the same email address as a legitimate supplieruses ndash in some cases fraudsters even pretend to be a manager or colleague inthe same business to convince people to open the invoice
Also if yoursquore a freelancer and used to working through a lot of invoices whynot check out our top 5 Money Saving Hacks for Freelancers
13
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Financial Fraud Action UK have offered the following tips ndash
Be on the lookout for unexpected invoices or unusual payment requestsespecially those arriving in different file formats to normalAvoid enabling any macros on an untrusted document (Macros in themselvesare not dangerous and do serve a legitimate purpose ndash but they can be used tohide malware)If yoursquore suspicious donrsquot reply to the email but instead call your supplier onthe number that you have on file to check the authenticity of the invoice
Ensure you have the latest anti-virus and security updates installed on yourcomputer and consider using high-level macro security settings in softwareapplicationsEnsure strong firewalls are in place to help detect malware and prevent dataleaving the network without permission This can be achieved throughinvesting in IT and seeking professional adviceConsider using a separate computer dedicated to making online payments tominimise security risks
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
14
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
What you can do
Use your common sense Is it likely that someone is selling a genuinedesigner item with a starting price of 99p and no reserve Check the sellerrsquosother items ndash are they selling multiple articles from the samedesigner Similarly be very wary of any items which come from Hong Kong orChina or other far-flung places Have you ever been to Hong Kong There arefake designer bags and wallets on every street cornerIf you are absolutely set on a particular bag then go to a department storewhich sells the genuine item and examine it very very carefully taking carefulnote of the position of the logos rivets and stitching Remember that a sellercan post a picture of the real bag on eBay and then sell you a fake so if youbuy collect in person and donrsquot part with the cash until you are certain you arein possession of the authentic item And take no notice if the seller is includingthe care card or the control card ndash these too can be easily faked
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
eBay was once fined pound30 million by aFrench court for allowing the sale of fakegoods eBay strive hard to eliminate fakesfrom the website and employ 2000 peoplespecifically to deal with this issue but withmore than 10 million goods for sale itrsquoshard to police effectively
If itrsquos designer goods that you are afterthen wersquore afraid there is always a risk thatyou are purchasing a fake However thereare certain steps you can take to make surethe article you are bidding for is thegenuine thing
If yoursquore selling on eBay on the other handwe can also help you with that here are 20handy tips for making more money oneBay
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
9
Chapter 4
WORK AND BUSINESS
HOME WORKING SCAM
According the Action Fraud ldquoThe scheme organiser will make you pay anadvance fee avoid paying you for the work yoursquove done make you buyworthless products or make you sign up others to the scheme before yoursquorepaidrdquoThese scams exploit you as a worker and make you think everything is worthyour while but it simply isnrsquot
What you can do
Donrsquot bother with envelope-stuffing schemes We havenrsquot found any that wereworth itDonrsquot go for anything that asks for payment upfront to join or get aninformation packCheck with this site and ask on the comments on articles like this one if yoursquorenot sure if something islegitimate or notRead our article on home-working scams here to find out the main types youcould be conned into doingThen check on our Make Money section for real ideas for making money fromhome
Herersquos Money-making ideas for the over 60rsquos and Online surveys Those arejust for starters
There are real ways you can make money from home but be very careful if itrsquossomething we havenrsquot recommended Ask us first if yoursquore in any doubt
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
You know what they say if itrsquos too good tobe truehellip
Yet thousands of people still get lured intoeasy money-making schemes throughoffers to start your own business fromhome or work from home
10
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
The scam
This scam was discovered by Financial Fraud Action UK Fraudsters are sendingspoof emails to workers impersonating senior members of the company suchas the finance director or chief executive They then ask the worker to transferthem money usually saying itrsquos an urgent circumstance such as itrsquos needed tosecure a new contract However of course the payment is made to thefraudsterrsquos account and they then withdraw the money straight awayWhatrsquos worrying is how convincing this scam can be Fraudsters use softwareto manipulate the characteristics of an email so it looks genuine ndash it includesthe correct senderrsquos address and looks like an email a worker really might getfrom a senior member of staff Sometimes fraudsters are even able to hack theactual accounts of members of staff often on web based servers The crooksare able to get all the details they need about the company from publiclyavailable information
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
11
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Finance Fraud Action UK has some top advice on avoiding thisscam
Always check any unusual payment requests directly ideally in person or bytelephone to confirm the instruction is genuine Do not use contact detailsfrom the emailEstablish a documented internal process for requesting and authorising allpayments and be suspicious of any request to make a payment outside of thecompanyrsquos standard processBe cautious about any unexpected emails which request urgent bank transferseven if the message appears to have originated from someone from your ownorganisationEnsure email passwords are robustConsider whether the email contains unusual language or is written in differentstyle to other emails from the sender
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoFraudsters will do all they can to make these scam emails look genuine so itrsquos important for businesses to be alert While an urgent request from the boss might naturally prompt a swift response it should in fact be a warning sign of a potential scam Thatrsquos why itrsquos vital that finance teams carefully check any unusual demands for payment through an alternative method such as over the phone or face to face before making the paymentrdquo
12
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
The scam
The scammers will send an invoicepretending to be from a legitimatecompany with a normal wordprocessing or spreadsheet documentattached
However to open it you will have toenable a macro (a set of pre-programmed instructions for acomputer) and this macro willdownload malicious software onto yourcomputer
This software will then monitor yourinternet usage and have access to allyour banking details ndash in fact it caninfect the whole of your businessnetwork
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Once it has your information it will send it back to the nasty criminals andtheyrsquoll help themselves to your hard-earned cash Unfortunately fraudstersare getting ever more sophisticated with their schemes making spottingpotential scams considerably harder
Scammers will try to use the same email address as a legitimate supplieruses ndash in some cases fraudsters even pretend to be a manager or colleague inthe same business to convince people to open the invoice
Also if yoursquore a freelancer and used to working through a lot of invoices whynot check out our top 5 Money Saving Hacks for Freelancers
13
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Financial Fraud Action UK have offered the following tips ndash
Be on the lookout for unexpected invoices or unusual payment requestsespecially those arriving in different file formats to normalAvoid enabling any macros on an untrusted document (Macros in themselvesare not dangerous and do serve a legitimate purpose ndash but they can be used tohide malware)If yoursquore suspicious donrsquot reply to the email but instead call your supplier onthe number that you have on file to check the authenticity of the invoice
Ensure you have the latest anti-virus and security updates installed on yourcomputer and consider using high-level macro security settings in softwareapplicationsEnsure strong firewalls are in place to help detect malware and prevent dataleaving the network without permission This can be achieved throughinvesting in IT and seeking professional adviceConsider using a separate computer dedicated to making online payments tominimise security risks
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
14
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
What you can do
Use your common sense Is it likely that someone is selling a genuinedesigner item with a starting price of 99p and no reserve Check the sellerrsquosother items ndash are they selling multiple articles from the samedesigner Similarly be very wary of any items which come from Hong Kong orChina or other far-flung places Have you ever been to Hong Kong There arefake designer bags and wallets on every street cornerIf you are absolutely set on a particular bag then go to a department storewhich sells the genuine item and examine it very very carefully taking carefulnote of the position of the logos rivets and stitching Remember that a sellercan post a picture of the real bag on eBay and then sell you a fake so if youbuy collect in person and donrsquot part with the cash until you are certain you arein possession of the authentic item And take no notice if the seller is includingthe care card or the control card ndash these too can be easily faked
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
eBay was once fined pound30 million by aFrench court for allowing the sale of fakegoods eBay strive hard to eliminate fakesfrom the website and employ 2000 peoplespecifically to deal with this issue but withmore than 10 million goods for sale itrsquoshard to police effectively
If itrsquos designer goods that you are afterthen wersquore afraid there is always a risk thatyou are purchasing a fake However thereare certain steps you can take to make surethe article you are bidding for is thegenuine thing
If yoursquore selling on eBay on the other handwe can also help you with that here are 20handy tips for making more money oneBay
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
10
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
The scam
This scam was discovered by Financial Fraud Action UK Fraudsters are sendingspoof emails to workers impersonating senior members of the company suchas the finance director or chief executive They then ask the worker to transferthem money usually saying itrsquos an urgent circumstance such as itrsquos needed tosecure a new contract However of course the payment is made to thefraudsterrsquos account and they then withdraw the money straight awayWhatrsquos worrying is how convincing this scam can be Fraudsters use softwareto manipulate the characteristics of an email so it looks genuine ndash it includesthe correct senderrsquos address and looks like an email a worker really might getfrom a senior member of staff Sometimes fraudsters are even able to hack theactual accounts of members of staff often on web based servers The crooksare able to get all the details they need about the company from publiclyavailable information
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
11
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Finance Fraud Action UK has some top advice on avoiding thisscam
Always check any unusual payment requests directly ideally in person or bytelephone to confirm the instruction is genuine Do not use contact detailsfrom the emailEstablish a documented internal process for requesting and authorising allpayments and be suspicious of any request to make a payment outside of thecompanyrsquos standard processBe cautious about any unexpected emails which request urgent bank transferseven if the message appears to have originated from someone from your ownorganisationEnsure email passwords are robustConsider whether the email contains unusual language or is written in differentstyle to other emails from the sender
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoFraudsters will do all they can to make these scam emails look genuine so itrsquos important for businesses to be alert While an urgent request from the boss might naturally prompt a swift response it should in fact be a warning sign of a potential scam Thatrsquos why itrsquos vital that finance teams carefully check any unusual demands for payment through an alternative method such as over the phone or face to face before making the paymentrdquo
12
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
The scam
The scammers will send an invoicepretending to be from a legitimatecompany with a normal wordprocessing or spreadsheet documentattached
However to open it you will have toenable a macro (a set of pre-programmed instructions for acomputer) and this macro willdownload malicious software onto yourcomputer
This software will then monitor yourinternet usage and have access to allyour banking details ndash in fact it caninfect the whole of your businessnetwork
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Once it has your information it will send it back to the nasty criminals andtheyrsquoll help themselves to your hard-earned cash Unfortunately fraudstersare getting ever more sophisticated with their schemes making spottingpotential scams considerably harder
Scammers will try to use the same email address as a legitimate supplieruses ndash in some cases fraudsters even pretend to be a manager or colleague inthe same business to convince people to open the invoice
Also if yoursquore a freelancer and used to working through a lot of invoices whynot check out our top 5 Money Saving Hacks for Freelancers
13
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Financial Fraud Action UK have offered the following tips ndash
Be on the lookout for unexpected invoices or unusual payment requestsespecially those arriving in different file formats to normalAvoid enabling any macros on an untrusted document (Macros in themselvesare not dangerous and do serve a legitimate purpose ndash but they can be used tohide malware)If yoursquore suspicious donrsquot reply to the email but instead call your supplier onthe number that you have on file to check the authenticity of the invoice
Ensure you have the latest anti-virus and security updates installed on yourcomputer and consider using high-level macro security settings in softwareapplicationsEnsure strong firewalls are in place to help detect malware and prevent dataleaving the network without permission This can be achieved throughinvesting in IT and seeking professional adviceConsider using a separate computer dedicated to making online payments tominimise security risks
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
14
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
What you can do
Use your common sense Is it likely that someone is selling a genuinedesigner item with a starting price of 99p and no reserve Check the sellerrsquosother items ndash are they selling multiple articles from the samedesigner Similarly be very wary of any items which come from Hong Kong orChina or other far-flung places Have you ever been to Hong Kong There arefake designer bags and wallets on every street cornerIf you are absolutely set on a particular bag then go to a department storewhich sells the genuine item and examine it very very carefully taking carefulnote of the position of the logos rivets and stitching Remember that a sellercan post a picture of the real bag on eBay and then sell you a fake so if youbuy collect in person and donrsquot part with the cash until you are certain you arein possession of the authentic item And take no notice if the seller is includingthe care card or the control card ndash these too can be easily faked
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
eBay was once fined pound30 million by aFrench court for allowing the sale of fakegoods eBay strive hard to eliminate fakesfrom the website and employ 2000 peoplespecifically to deal with this issue but withmore than 10 million goods for sale itrsquoshard to police effectively
If itrsquos designer goods that you are afterthen wersquore afraid there is always a risk thatyou are purchasing a fake However thereare certain steps you can take to make surethe article you are bidding for is thegenuine thing
If yoursquore selling on eBay on the other handwe can also help you with that here are 20handy tips for making more money oneBay
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
11
Chapter 5
WORK AND BUSINESS
SENIOR MEMBER BUSINESS SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Finance Fraud Action UK has some top advice on avoiding thisscam
Always check any unusual payment requests directly ideally in person or bytelephone to confirm the instruction is genuine Do not use contact detailsfrom the emailEstablish a documented internal process for requesting and authorising allpayments and be suspicious of any request to make a payment outside of thecompanyrsquos standard processBe cautious about any unexpected emails which request urgent bank transferseven if the message appears to have originated from someone from your ownorganisationEnsure email passwords are robustConsider whether the email contains unusual language or is written in differentstyle to other emails from the sender
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoFraudsters will do all they can to make these scam emails look genuine so itrsquos important for businesses to be alert While an urgent request from the boss might naturally prompt a swift response it should in fact be a warning sign of a potential scam Thatrsquos why itrsquos vital that finance teams carefully check any unusual demands for payment through an alternative method such as over the phone or face to face before making the paymentrdquo
12
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
The scam
The scammers will send an invoicepretending to be from a legitimatecompany with a normal wordprocessing or spreadsheet documentattached
However to open it you will have toenable a macro (a set of pre-programmed instructions for acomputer) and this macro willdownload malicious software onto yourcomputer
This software will then monitor yourinternet usage and have access to allyour banking details ndash in fact it caninfect the whole of your businessnetwork
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Once it has your information it will send it back to the nasty criminals andtheyrsquoll help themselves to your hard-earned cash Unfortunately fraudstersare getting ever more sophisticated with their schemes making spottingpotential scams considerably harder
Scammers will try to use the same email address as a legitimate supplieruses ndash in some cases fraudsters even pretend to be a manager or colleague inthe same business to convince people to open the invoice
Also if yoursquore a freelancer and used to working through a lot of invoices whynot check out our top 5 Money Saving Hacks for Freelancers
13
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Financial Fraud Action UK have offered the following tips ndash
Be on the lookout for unexpected invoices or unusual payment requestsespecially those arriving in different file formats to normalAvoid enabling any macros on an untrusted document (Macros in themselvesare not dangerous and do serve a legitimate purpose ndash but they can be used tohide malware)If yoursquore suspicious donrsquot reply to the email but instead call your supplier onthe number that you have on file to check the authenticity of the invoice
Ensure you have the latest anti-virus and security updates installed on yourcomputer and consider using high-level macro security settings in softwareapplicationsEnsure strong firewalls are in place to help detect malware and prevent dataleaving the network without permission This can be achieved throughinvesting in IT and seeking professional adviceConsider using a separate computer dedicated to making online payments tominimise security risks
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
14
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
What you can do
Use your common sense Is it likely that someone is selling a genuinedesigner item with a starting price of 99p and no reserve Check the sellerrsquosother items ndash are they selling multiple articles from the samedesigner Similarly be very wary of any items which come from Hong Kong orChina or other far-flung places Have you ever been to Hong Kong There arefake designer bags and wallets on every street cornerIf you are absolutely set on a particular bag then go to a department storewhich sells the genuine item and examine it very very carefully taking carefulnote of the position of the logos rivets and stitching Remember that a sellercan post a picture of the real bag on eBay and then sell you a fake so if youbuy collect in person and donrsquot part with the cash until you are certain you arein possession of the authentic item And take no notice if the seller is includingthe care card or the control card ndash these too can be easily faked
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
eBay was once fined pound30 million by aFrench court for allowing the sale of fakegoods eBay strive hard to eliminate fakesfrom the website and employ 2000 peoplespecifically to deal with this issue but withmore than 10 million goods for sale itrsquoshard to police effectively
If itrsquos designer goods that you are afterthen wersquore afraid there is always a risk thatyou are purchasing a fake However thereare certain steps you can take to make surethe article you are bidding for is thegenuine thing
If yoursquore selling on eBay on the other handwe can also help you with that here are 20handy tips for making more money oneBay
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
12
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
The scam
The scammers will send an invoicepretending to be from a legitimatecompany with a normal wordprocessing or spreadsheet documentattached
However to open it you will have toenable a macro (a set of pre-programmed instructions for acomputer) and this macro willdownload malicious software onto yourcomputer
This software will then monitor yourinternet usage and have access to allyour banking details ndash in fact it caninfect the whole of your businessnetwork
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Once it has your information it will send it back to the nasty criminals andtheyrsquoll help themselves to your hard-earned cash Unfortunately fraudstersare getting ever more sophisticated with their schemes making spottingpotential scams considerably harder
Scammers will try to use the same email address as a legitimate supplieruses ndash in some cases fraudsters even pretend to be a manager or colleague inthe same business to convince people to open the invoice
Also if yoursquore a freelancer and used to working through a lot of invoices whynot check out our top 5 Money Saving Hacks for Freelancers
13
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Financial Fraud Action UK have offered the following tips ndash
Be on the lookout for unexpected invoices or unusual payment requestsespecially those arriving in different file formats to normalAvoid enabling any macros on an untrusted document (Macros in themselvesare not dangerous and do serve a legitimate purpose ndash but they can be used tohide malware)If yoursquore suspicious donrsquot reply to the email but instead call your supplier onthe number that you have on file to check the authenticity of the invoice
Ensure you have the latest anti-virus and security updates installed on yourcomputer and consider using high-level macro security settings in softwareapplicationsEnsure strong firewalls are in place to help detect malware and prevent dataleaving the network without permission This can be achieved throughinvesting in IT and seeking professional adviceConsider using a separate computer dedicated to making online payments tominimise security risks
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
14
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
What you can do
Use your common sense Is it likely that someone is selling a genuinedesigner item with a starting price of 99p and no reserve Check the sellerrsquosother items ndash are they selling multiple articles from the samedesigner Similarly be very wary of any items which come from Hong Kong orChina or other far-flung places Have you ever been to Hong Kong There arefake designer bags and wallets on every street cornerIf you are absolutely set on a particular bag then go to a department storewhich sells the genuine item and examine it very very carefully taking carefulnote of the position of the logos rivets and stitching Remember that a sellercan post a picture of the real bag on eBay and then sell you a fake so if youbuy collect in person and donrsquot part with the cash until you are certain you arein possession of the authentic item And take no notice if the seller is includingthe care card or the control card ndash these too can be easily faked
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
eBay was once fined pound30 million by aFrench court for allowing the sale of fakegoods eBay strive hard to eliminate fakesfrom the website and employ 2000 peoplespecifically to deal with this issue but withmore than 10 million goods for sale itrsquoshard to police effectively
If itrsquos designer goods that you are afterthen wersquore afraid there is always a risk thatyou are purchasing a fake However thereare certain steps you can take to make surethe article you are bidding for is thegenuine thing
If yoursquore selling on eBay on the other handwe can also help you with that here are 20handy tips for making more money oneBay
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
13
Chapter 6
WORK AND BUSINESS
FAKE INVOICES SCAM
What you can do
Thankfully Financial Fraud Action UK have offered the following tips ndash
Be on the lookout for unexpected invoices or unusual payment requestsespecially those arriving in different file formats to normalAvoid enabling any macros on an untrusted document (Macros in themselvesare not dangerous and do serve a legitimate purpose ndash but they can be used tohide malware)If yoursquore suspicious donrsquot reply to the email but instead call your supplier onthe number that you have on file to check the authenticity of the invoice
Ensure you have the latest anti-virus and security updates installed on yourcomputer and consider using high-level macro security settings in softwareapplicationsEnsure strong firewalls are in place to help detect malware and prevent dataleaving the network without permission This can be achieved throughinvesting in IT and seeking professional adviceConsider using a separate computer dedicated to making online payments tominimise security risks
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
Katy Worobec Director of Financial Fraud Action UK says
ldquoNever enable a macro if yoursquore at all unsure about the authenticity of an invoice and instead call the sender on the number you have on file If you think your computer system might be infected then contact your bank immediatelyrdquo
14
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
What you can do
Use your common sense Is it likely that someone is selling a genuinedesigner item with a starting price of 99p and no reserve Check the sellerrsquosother items ndash are they selling multiple articles from the samedesigner Similarly be very wary of any items which come from Hong Kong orChina or other far-flung places Have you ever been to Hong Kong There arefake designer bags and wallets on every street cornerIf you are absolutely set on a particular bag then go to a department storewhich sells the genuine item and examine it very very carefully taking carefulnote of the position of the logos rivets and stitching Remember that a sellercan post a picture of the real bag on eBay and then sell you a fake so if youbuy collect in person and donrsquot part with the cash until you are certain you arein possession of the authentic item And take no notice if the seller is includingthe care card or the control card ndash these too can be easily faked
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
eBay was once fined pound30 million by aFrench court for allowing the sale of fakegoods eBay strive hard to eliminate fakesfrom the website and employ 2000 peoplespecifically to deal with this issue but withmore than 10 million goods for sale itrsquoshard to police effectively
If itrsquos designer goods that you are afterthen wersquore afraid there is always a risk thatyou are purchasing a fake However thereare certain steps you can take to make surethe article you are bidding for is thegenuine thing
If yoursquore selling on eBay on the other handwe can also help you with that here are 20handy tips for making more money oneBay
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
14
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
What you can do
Use your common sense Is it likely that someone is selling a genuinedesigner item with a starting price of 99p and no reserve Check the sellerrsquosother items ndash are they selling multiple articles from the samedesigner Similarly be very wary of any items which come from Hong Kong orChina or other far-flung places Have you ever been to Hong Kong There arefake designer bags and wallets on every street cornerIf you are absolutely set on a particular bag then go to a department storewhich sells the genuine item and examine it very very carefully taking carefulnote of the position of the logos rivets and stitching Remember that a sellercan post a picture of the real bag on eBay and then sell you a fake so if youbuy collect in person and donrsquot part with the cash until you are certain you arein possession of the authentic item And take no notice if the seller is includingthe care card or the control card ndash these too can be easily faked
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The scam
eBay was once fined pound30 million by aFrench court for allowing the sale of fakegoods eBay strive hard to eliminate fakesfrom the website and employ 2000 peoplespecifically to deal with this issue but withmore than 10 million goods for sale itrsquoshard to police effectively
If itrsquos designer goods that you are afterthen wersquore afraid there is always a risk thatyou are purchasing a fake However thereare certain steps you can take to make surethe article you are bidding for is thegenuine thing
If yoursquore selling on eBay on the other handwe can also help you with that here are 20handy tips for making more money oneBay
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
15
Chapter 7
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKES
If you canrsquot collect the item yourself then please do pay with PayPal as it offersbuyer protection In other words if the bag or item turns out to be fake youcan get your money back
Have a good look at your sellerrsquos feedback and check out their reputation forcustomer satisfaction You can learn an enormous amount from taking a lookat everything they have sold Lots of Chanel bags at a cheap price should ringalarm bells Ask the seller questions about the item and ask for additionalphotographs a genuine seller will readily provide additional informationReal designer handbags do not come with plastic wrapped handles ndash this canbe an absolute give away in the photograph
Remember there is a huge industry in fake perfume and cosmetics aswell This is a potentially dangerous area as these fakes will have untestedingredients and could be damaging to your skinSometimes Amazon is a better way to go itrsquos less likely yoursquoll find fakes herecompared to eBay
There are some genuine designer items in the eBay marketplace you justneed to look for them carefully However we are not going to point you in thedirection of any ourselves as we simply canrsquot guarantee their authenticity
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
If you do want to buy a designerhandbag we would go for a makelike Mulberry or Anya Hindmarchsimply because they are notcounterfeited so much as theGuccis and Chloes Do beprepared to pay a lot of money acurrent lsquoitrsquo bag in good conditionwill probably sell for up to twothirds of its retail price
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
16
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
The scam
Note Fraudsters are particularly active over big selling periods like BlackFriday Christmas and New Year with the aim of catching people off guardThings you shouldnrsquot do when shopping online (particularly at these times)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
1 Not checking websites are legitimate before purchase Technologyis sophisticated and itrsquos not uncommon for criminals to launch a perfectlylegitimate looking site with all the expected features ndash often includingcustomer reviews However a legitimate ecommerce site should beequipped with a SiteLock Trust Seal ndash the padlock to the left of the URLbar 54 donrsquot look for The Seal before making a purchase meaningthey could be directly inputting their bank cardrsquos details into a fakeshopping site
2 Purchasing from sites yoursquove never heard of It might seem crazybut 19 of us will consider doing this The result for many can beordering counterfeit goods inadvertently According to the research 23ordered DVDBlu-ray only to realise when it was fake on arrival
3 Purchasing items which appear to be on too good of an offerDonrsquot get caught up in the sales especially with designer goods and high-value electronics such as smartphones speakers and headphones Thiscontributes to the 39 of people who have placed orders which neverarrived and lost cash If yoursquore being offered a radically different price tothe figure on the brandrsquos official site be very wary
4 Not changing passwords online This is good internet housekeepingbut many of us neglect this ndash even after security breach Shockingly50 of scam victims donrsquot actually change their passwords This leavespeople exceptionally open to further cyber attacks and also identitytheft
5 Assuming yoursquore not a target of fraud 45 of 18-24 have beentargeted by online scams as opposed to just 26 of over 55s Of thesepeople 31 wrongly assume online fraudsters are just targeting seniorcitizens showing how at risk the younger generations are ndash especiallywhen many assume they have nothing to worry about
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
17
Chapter 8
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FAKE SHOPPING SITES
6 Disregarding small charges on your bank statements and phonebills Increasingly fraudsters take smaller amounts of money from victimswhich may add up to larger more significant amounts without you beingentirely aware A fifth (19) noticed some suspicious charges on theirmobile bill or bank statements as a result of this Where this happenscontact your bank or mobile provider immediately to find out the source
7 Ignoring your bank when they tell you somethingrsquos afoot Awhopping 41 were warned by their bank that something wasnrsquot right withtheir account but didnrsquot address the point Unfortunately these people werethen targeted by scammers It can seem like a hassle but bankingtechnology is designed to keep our finances safe
8 Letting the site keep your credit card details admittedly this doesmake it easier to shop if you go to this site regularly but if the site has yourcredit card details stored then if it gets hacked (and even the big sites dosometimes) then the hackers will have access to all the credit card detailsthat are stored there
What you can do
Basically the opposite of all the donrsquots aboveStudy your bank statement every month ndash this is something you should reallybe doing anyway Whatrsquos the point in working hard all week if yoursquore not goingto protect what yoursquove earned
Donrsquot trust obscure sites
Use applications like Web Of Trust (WoT) which you can install on googlechrome to tell you which sites are safe and reliable and which are notIf yoursquore in doubt about a new site put their name and lsquoreviewrsquo into yoursearch bar and see what other shoppers say about them Check them onTrustPilot and forums
However if you want to sell your stuff online we also have some great adviceand a step-by-step guide on our website
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
18
Chapter 9
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
FREEBIES
The scam
We can all be lured in with the promise of a freebie But be careful becausenot all of these so-called freebies are completely free Companies can hook youwith the freebie and before you know it yoursquove got money coming out of youraccount every month and you are signed up to a contract for a year
Although it may not be fully categorised as a ldquoscamrdquo often a free trial such asthat with a streaming service requires you to enter your debitcredit card orbank details and when the trial is over they will automatically start to chargeyou This is even the case with household brands such as Amazon
Responsible companies should make it clear on their site that you will chargedafter a certain period if you fail to cancel But you might find this information isin the terms and conditions and not clearly displayed
PlayStation Plus membership is especially aggravating for this If you forget tocancel your membership yoursquore charged for the whole next year and becausethe system first takes fund from your card and deposits them in yourPlayStation wallet during the transaction if you request a refund all thatPlayStation will do is return your funds to your ldquowalletrdquo meaning you will stillhave to spend that money on the PlayStation store
What you can do
The best thing you can do is to sign up to our freebies newsletter and gethundreds of great freebies to your inbox regularly We check every freebie soyou know itrsquos always legitimate
Also be wary that when a company asks for your credit card details with a freetrial then you should look out for what happens when your trial ends and seta reminder date in your calendar to cancel your membership before you getcharged Also most of the time you can cancel your membership immediatelyafter signing up and will keep all your membership benefits until yourtrialmembership period expires
Not all freebies require credit card details and there are plenty of genuinefreebies around out there you just have to search for them ndash or sign up to ournewsletter
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
19
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
The scam
When you arrive at a hotel and check in you are usually required to leave yourcredit card for charges to your room
The scam starts when you get a call from someone who appears to be areceptionist at the front desk Theyrsquoll call you in your room and make up aplausible story that will go something like ldquoOur database has crashed and weneed you to help us to reconfirm your credit card detailsrdquo
In quite a few cases the con artists have called up the hotel guests in the earlyhours of the morning to catch them off their guard and a bit confused ndash itrsquosmore likely guests will hand over their details instead of going down to thefront desk to sort any issues out
People who have been victim to this type of hotel scam have said that it is verybelievable as the con artist sounds so professional Theyrsquore very apologetic andpolite acting sorry for the inconveniences caused
Most of the scam artists have managed to call up hotel guests because theyrsquovebeen able to break into the hotelrsquos phone system and contact guests directly
Likewise when in a hotel on holiday make sure you always keep yourIDpassport safe
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
20
Chapter 10
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOTEL SCAM
What you can do
Some basic rules to follow which will protect you against falling victim to ahotel scam are
Always deal with your financial business face to face at the front desk anddonrsquot give out any of your personal or financial information over the phoneIf you do get a suspicious call to your room inform a member of staff at thehotel as itrsquos quite likely other guests at the hotel got the same callRemember that a hotel would never call you in the middle of the night andwould sort out any problems with your credit card in person the following dayif it was neededBook with reliable hotel agencies and remember to get travel insuranceHint ndash you wonrsquot have this problem if you use Airbnb instead which can becheaper
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
21
Chapter 11
HOLIDAY AND LEISURE
HOLIDAY BOOKING SITES FRAUD
The scam
Even before yoursquove gone on holiday you can fall prey to a holiday scam ndash theactual booking site A report by the City of London Policersquos National FraudIntelligence Bureau (NFIB) estimated that British holidaymakers werescammed out of pound7m by fraudsters in 2015 with pound22m of this being lost tofake online sites and reviews
What they do is set up copy-cat websites offering all-inclusive servicesincluding flights hotels transfers and travel insurance These fraudulent siteslook normal and theyrsquore pretty easy to set up As they use a credible domainname itrsquos even easier for them to sucker us in
Therersquos also the issue of trusted established websites like TripAdvisor whichcan also be plagued by bogus reviews recommending fake holiday companiesor websites
What you can do
Shop around ndash if one particular website that isnrsquot one of the big travelcompanies is offering a deal much lower than the rest then think twice If itlooks too good to be true it probably is
Unless you have 100 verified who you are dealing with do not pay for yourholiday by bank transfer Western Union or cash Use your credit or debit cardthat at least offers a level of consumer protection
Only use websites that have a verified identity If you are asked to hand overpersonal details or credit card numbers donrsquot do it unless you are in a websiteprotected by SSL (look for a green browser bar or the padlock to left of theweb address) Quickly check the details of the domain name of the website atwhois ndash when was it registered If it was only set up in the last year besuspicious Also if their details are hidden be very suspicious
However sometimes you can find incredible deals which are legitimate youjust need to know where to look Wersquove collected all the best travel deal hoteland flight websites in one place ndash you wonrsquot find cheaper prices anywhere elseso take a look
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
22
Chapter 12
SOCIAL MEDEA
FRIEND IN DISTRESS EMAIL SCAM lsquoSPANISH PRISONERrsquo
The scam
The internet scammers have come up with a new internet scam ndash based on avery old one - using your email inboxMatthew Wright from Channel 5rsquos lsquoThe Wright Stuffrsquo first told us about this ashe got an email like this apparently from a friendHe received an email apparently from one of his friends with a message alongthe lines of lsquoIrsquom in a Kenyan jail please send me some money as soon as youcanrsquoIn this case as this friend happened to be a journalist it wasnrsquot a completelyunbelievable situation and Matthew was concerned However as he was busyat the time he didnrsquot deal with it immediatelyThen the next day he received a very similar message from another of hiscontacts It turns out they were in an African jail too and also needed moneywired to them urgently This time it was a very unlikely scenario for thisparticular person to be in and it became clear that it was a scamThe fraudsters are able to hack into your email list and send messages posingas you to all those on your contacts list ldquoThe first email I got looked realrdquo saidMatthew ldquoIt was only when the second one came that I realised it had to befakerdquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Here are a few steps to take to prevent thishappening to youUse a good web browser and a firewall ndashthis should protect you against fraud andalert you to websites without securitycertificates or those which might not belegitimateCheck first with your friend if you get anurgent message Text or phone them oreven email them from a separate accountasking if their message was genuineFor more information about scams ndash seeour Scamwatch article
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
23
Chapter 13
SOCIAL MEDIA
TINY URL SCAM
The scam
Thanks to Twitter wersquore all used to seeing shorter links created through sitessuch as Bitly
Shorter links are good because theyrsquore easier on the eye and allow Tweets tolook short and concise
However shorter links do make it much harder if not impossible to tell whatsite yoursquoll be sent to
Criminals will take advantage of this to send people to malicious sites withviruses that will infect your computer
What you can do
To stay safe make sure you have antivirus software and donrsquot click on a shortlink unless yoursquore sure of the person or company sharing it Also read ourarticle on spotting online scams
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
24
Chapter 14
SOCIAL MEDIA
FAKE FACEBOOK FRIEND SCAM
The scam
Wersquove heard of yet another nasty fraud being perpetrated on Facebook Ifyoursquore on it be very careful of this one ndash itrsquos extremely sneaky
As you may know sometimes people who are on Facebook come off it andthen go back on so itrsquos quite possible that you will get a lsquofriendrsquo request fromsomeone you thought was already on your list (which could be 100s long ofcourse)
In fact these lsquofriendrsquo requests can be bogus Some scammers copy Facebookprofiles They copy the timeline the friends the family the photos andeverything So the whole profile looks entirely legitimate
After a couple of weeks yoursquoll get a panicked message from this Facebookcontact ndash the sort wersquore now used to getting in emails ndash saying that they wereaway on holiday but had been mugged and needed to be sent pound250 asap
Well given that this message will mention members of your family it can bevery convincing
What you can do
So if you have a Facebook profile and you get a lsquofriendrsquo request just double-check Ring them on the phone or email them direct Donrsquot just ask them onFacebook if theyrsquore real because of course whoever they are they will saylsquoyesrsquo
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
25
Chapter 15
TAX
TAX EMAIL SCAM
The scam
Small business owners and the self-employed are being sent fake ldquophishingrdquoemails to try to trick them into handing over their bank or credit card detailsThe way they hook you in is to pretend that yoursquore owed a tax rebate TheRevenue say itrsquos ldquothe most sophisticated and prolific scamrdquo it has dealt withBewareThese tend to go out in the month or so leading up to a tax deadline like theone for self-assessment forms to be sent inThis is a time when many taxpayers will be due for a rebate so a lot of peoplecould be taken in by these nasty emailsIn one of these frauds the scammers ask people to call a phone line to leavetheir details If you do that yoursquoll hear a ringing tone but you will be chargedup to pound6 a minute while you hold for a replyHMRC has so far had fake websites taken down in Austria Mexico the USThailand and Japan as it attempts to stamp out the fraud But itrsquos still going onso watch out and tell your friends
What you can do
Be vigilant and be aware of what you are or are not owed The governmentdoes not like handing out money so in all likelihood if it seems as if someonewant to take work off you hands or give you money back it is likely fraudKnow your tax code and how much you are paying as well as whether youhave had a tax rebate before or are eligible for one in the future
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
26
Chapter 16
TAX
SCAM TEXT MESSAGES FROM HMRC
The scam
Fraudsters alleging to be from HMRC send text messages to unsuspectingmembers of the public In these messages they will make false claims such assuggesting they are due a tax rebate
Messages will usually include links to websites which harvest personalinformation or spread malware This can in turn lead to identity fraud and thetheft of peoplersquos personal savings
Reports of this type of fraud have quickly increased in volume over the last fewyears People are nine times more likely to fall for text message scams thanother forms like email because they can appear more legitimate with manytexts displaying lsquoHMRCrsquo as the sender rather than a phone number
What you can do
HMRC will never contact customers who are due a tax refund by text messageor by emailThis makes it very simple to avoid these types of scam If you get a text oremail itrsquos from a fraudster
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
27
Chapter 17
FINANCE
BOILER ROOM SCAM
The scam
lsquoBoiler Roomrsquo scams are a nasty and expensive type of fraud that in somecases has cleaned people out of their life savings on the promise of bigearnings on share investments Even seasoned investors have been conned bythis scam ndash in fact itrsquos usually seasoned investors who are directly targeted bythese people
What happens is that some stranger calls you up and tells you about thisamazing stock or fund or some such product which you just have to invest inItrsquos going to go stratospheric any day now according to your persuasive-sounding caller so yoursquove got to put money in asap or yoursquoll miss out on thisincredible investment opportunity
These people are often based thousands of miles away somewhere where therules are pretty lax but they often have pukka-sounding names like lsquoBarclaysInvestment Growthrsquo or lsquoLloyds Fund Management Researchrsquo and will have aLondon phone number (something you can buy easily) a City address (which isbogus) and often a posh voice on the phone It can all look and sound totallyplausible whereas in fact itrsquos a lying scumbag fraud (and you can quote me onthat)
What you can do
A good way of learning about how they work is to watch the film of the samename lsquoBoiler Roomlsquo which has Ben Affleck Casey Affleck and Vin Diesel in itItrsquos worth a look to find out how these people think and what harm they cando Itrsquos good entertainment too
Use your common sense donrsquot be intimidated or impressed by posh accentsandor impressive and official sounding corporate names Remember how easyit is to fake an identity and occupation and remember how much money is atstake Most things in life that are too good to be true really are too good to betrue Money doesnrsquot just drop out of the sky and with that in mind you shouldbe able to tell the difference between fraudsters and legitimate opportunities
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
28
Chapter 18
FINANCE
SCAM TARGETING PEOPLE WITH LOANS
The scam
The fraudsters ndash often from a company with a similar name to an existing loancompany (clever) ndash are sending out letters claiming the recipient has missed arepayment deadline and they now owe the original debt plus more moneyNaturally if yoursquore already a bit jittery about your loan repayments a letterlike this can make you panic and try to pay it before you get worse fines Itrsquos amean and manipulative fraud ndash as most frauds are ndash so do let friends andfamily know about it particularly if they are borrowing right now
Action Fraud has had thousands of these cases over the years and takes themvery seriously
On the topic of loans it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with thedifferences between loans and credit cards so yoursquore aware of the avenuesfraudsters can attack from
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
There are some simple rules you canall follow to help protect yourself
bull Check your original paperwork ndashcontact the company you took theloan from to check repaymentdates
bull Ask questions ndash If someone islegitimate they wonrsquot pressuriseyou or be elusive
bull Donrsquot stay silent If yoursquove beentargeted by a fraudster and lostmoney contact Action Fraud orcall 0300 123 204
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
29
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
The Scam
Fraudsters offering investments in binary options contracts for difference(CFDs) forex and cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin) often promotethemselves online and via social media channels such as Facebook Instagramand Twitter They typically promise high returns and use images of luxuryitems like expensive watches and cars to entice people to invest in theirscams After someone has invested they distort prices on their website tiepeople in with extreme pay-out clauses and even close customer accountsrefusing to pay back their money
This rise in people being targeted online means that the profile of investmentscam victims is changing While historically over 55s have been most at risk toinvestment fraud the FCArsquos latest study conducted as part of its ScamSmartcampaign found those aged under 25 were six times (13) more likely totrust an investment offer they received via social media compared with over55s (2) Action Fraud figures reinforce this trend showing that under 50sare significantly more likely to fall victim to a binary options scam versus othertypes of investment fraud (34 v 21)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
More than one in five (23)respondents said that online customertestimonies and reviews increase theirtrust in an investment company Yetscammers are known to create highlyprofessional looking online investmentplatforms that feature fake customerreviews logos and statements tolure in prospective investors A furtherone in ten (11) said they wouldnrsquotconduct any of the listed checks at allsuch as checking whether the firmwas regulated by the FCA orregistered with Companies Housebefore parting with their money
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
30
Chapter 19
FINANCE
INVESTMENT FRAUD
What you can do
The FCArsquos ScamSmart campaign encourages those considering investing tocheck its dedicated website The site features an online tool the Warning Listwhich allows users to find out more about the risks associated with aninvestment and view a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without itsauthorisation For the first time the FCA has seen more users checking theWarning List after being approached with an investment offer online ratherthan over the phoneBinary options investments allow consumers to make bets on the expectedvalue or price of a stock commodity currency or index On 3 January 2018binary options became a regulated investment product meaning that all firmstrading in binary options will need to be authorised by the FCA Since then theFCA has published a list of 94 firms without FCA authorisation that itunderstands to be offering binary options trading to UK consumers Take a lookat the list to see which firms are regulated If the site you are trying to use isnot on that list come out of it immediately
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
31
Chapter 20
FINANCE
WESTERN UNION SCAM
The scam
Any time we see an ad on Gumtree or Craigslist or similar which says wersquore tosend money by wire transfer by Western Union or similar wersquore 99 sure itrsquos acon
Western Union is a legitimate and useful way of sending money to friends orfamily in another country but because itrsquos hard to trace the cash itrsquos also usedby a lot of fraudsters around the world Now Western Union is warningconsumers to be vigilant when shopping online because this is wherescammers are poised to steal your hard-earned cash
Common goods involved in scams are
bull Event ticketsbull Motor vehiclesbull Electronic goods
What you can do
Western Union says you should never send a money transfer to someone youhave not met in person
Be particularly careful with sites like eBay eBid and the other auction sites Inauction site scams buyers are told the seller only accepts money transfers forpayment The ldquosellerrdquo tells the buyer to put the transaction in a fictitiousname falsely convincing the victim this protects their money until the goods orservices are received The ldquosellerrdquo retrieves the funds and the goods neverarrive
Just as you wouldnrsquot send cash through the mail to a complete stranger donrsquotuse a money transfer service to pay for a product you havenrsquot seen from anindividual you have not met For more information on how to protect yourselffrom scams using Western Union go to their page here
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
32
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
The scam
Nasty fraudsters have been cold calling pretending to be staff from theFinancial Ombudsman Service wanting to discuss insurance claims
People have also been getting fraudulent emails claiming to be from staff atthe Financial Ombudsman Service
In both circumstances fraudsters are falsely using the name of the service topersuade people to reveal details about their personal and financialcircumstances
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
The Financial Ombudsman have said ldquoWetake issues like this very seriously and it isconcerning and unfortunate that fraudstersare falsely using our name to try to deceivepeople The ombudsman does not ldquocold-callrdquo people or email them out of the blueparticularly to ask for personal information
ldquoWe would only get in touch if someone hasalready contacted us so they should beexpecting to hear from us and then only todiscuss the query they have asked us tolook into
ldquoIt is important to be vigilant so if youreceive an unexpected call or email fromsomeone who says they work at theombudsman service ndash but it seemssuspicious and you want to check it out ndashyou can get in touch with us Wersquodrecommend you hang up and either use adifferent phone or at least wait tenminutes and then call us directly on 0800023 4567rdquo
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
33
Chapter 21
FINANCE
FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN IMPERSONATION SCAM
What you can do
To help protect yourself generally from scam communications you should
bull Never reveal any personal details ndash such as your address phone numberetc ndash unless yoursquore absolutely sure that the person yoursquore dealing withreally is who they say they are Some firms will ask for extracts of personalinformation for security procedures but this is normally only where youhave a pre-existing relationship with them If you arenrsquot expecting a call ordonrsquot recognize the business calling be vigilant
bull Never give out any of your banking or credit card details unless you knowfor certain that the request is genuine and
bull Never give anyone your security information such as yourinternettelephone banking password or log-on details (no genuine bankingfirm ever asks you to provide this information)
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
34
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
The scam
If you get a text that seems to be from your bank telling you therersquos beenfraud on your account and asking for your personal details Delete itimmediately
Criminals are using spoof text messages which appear to be sent from yourbank to try to steal personal or financial information according to FinancialFraud Action UK (FFA UK)
The scam text messages claim that therersquos been fraud on your account or thatthe account details need to be updated
The texts try and get you to call a number or visit a website often claiming thematter is urgent But the telephone number or website is actually controlled bythe fraudster enabling them to steal security details which can be used toaccess your bank account and steal money
To make the texts seem authentic fraudsters use specialist software whichalters the sender ID on a message so that it appears with the name of a bankas the sender This can mean that the text becomes included within an existingtext message thread on your phone
A second thing they do is say in the texts that you will soon receive a call fromyour bankrsquos fraud department However itrsquos actually the fraudster that thencalls you and attempts to trick you into revealing you full security details
Not only that but fraudsters are also sending scam texts which appear to befrom a landline number asking you simply to call your bank This is in thehope that you will phone the number from which the text was sent which iscontrolled by the fraudster rather than the bankrsquos regular customer servicetelephone number
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
35
Chapter 22
FINANCE
BANK TEXT SCAM
What you can do
Your bank will never act like this They will never ask you to give accountinformation away So simply put donrsquot do it even if the communication seemslegitimateIf they are persistent and you feel like the matter may truly be of urgency andnot fraud related go into your local branch to ease your mind or ring themdirect
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
36
Chapter 23
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
PHONE SLAMMING
The scam
A salesperson from some small phone company calls up extolling the virtues oftheir phone service Even if you donrsquot express interest they then contact BTand tell them that yoursquore leaving and switching to their service You donrsquot knowanything about it until a letter comes from BT expressing sorrow that yoursquoreleaving Apparently they transfer the service then when people try to cancelthe contract the dodgy company charges them a re-connection fee of over ahundred poundsFor more telephone scams check out our list of the top 10 and how to avoidthem
What you can do
The action you can take depends on the type of mis-selling you haveexperienced and when it happened It is also important to tell Ofcom of yourexperience as such reports help Ofcom tackle slammingmis-selling Althoughthey cannot investigate individual cases your complaints can lead them tolaunch investigations and ultimately to take action against companies found tobe mis-selling You can contact Ofcom online or by calling 020 7981 3040between 9am and 5pm Monday to FridayAs part of the Distance Selling Regulations or Consumer Contracts Regulationsas theyre now known youve a right to cancel an order made at a distanceFor example an order made online or over the phoneYou normally have 14 days from the day your service starts to change yourmind and leave your contract without any charges for early cancellation Yourexisting supplier should send you a letter to notify you of any pending transferThis lets you cancel without charge up to shortly before the transfer is due totake placeIf your provider is unable to resolve your complaint ask for a deadlock letterThis enables you to take your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) scheme ADRs act as an independent middleman and will examine thecase from both sides and reach a decision they think fair If eight weeks havepassed since you first formally complained you can contact the ADR directlyThere are two ADR schemes - Ombudsman Services Communications and theCommunications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) linksAll service providers must belong to one of the schemes Your provider will tellyou which scheme it is a member of
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
37
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
The scam
A phone call scam involving alleged lsquoClairvoyantrsquo services is making scammersmoney without the people knowing that they are being chargedConfused and oblivious householders receive mysterious messages and coldcalls from apparent Clairvoyants and Psychics selling them their lsquoservicesrsquowhilst being charged a premium rate without realising it
Scams like these are often hard to spot as the callers are very convincing andhave been well-trained
The way they work is that they phone you up and tell you that yoursquore in somekind of trouble or you have something like a curse and you need to make apayment so they can get rid of it for you Sounds crazy but there are a lot ofgullible and frightened people around who will buy into this
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
38
Chapter 24
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
CLAIRVOYANT SCAM
One of their other main scams is telling you this weekrsquos ldquowinningrdquo lotterynumbers which sounds very enticing to a lot of people and therefore many arebeing swindled without even realising
Another thing which makes this scam hard to track is that the majority of thepublic fail to check their itemised phone bill each month so donrsquot know thatthey have been charged extortionate amounts without permission This meansthe authorities donrsquot know just how many people have suffered financial lossup to now
Many have lost substantial amounts of money per phone call One website thatoffers advice to Clairvoyants on premium-rate telephone charges states that aClairvoyant or a Psychic can earn up to pound66 in just one hour by usingexpensive phone numbers and using a script to keep people on the line forages This shows that someone could earn over pound60000 per annum literally bydeceiving the public
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
These scams are criminal and if youthink yoursquove been victimised bysomething like this (or you knowsomeone else who has) donrsquot letthese lsquoPsychicsrsquo affect yours andothersrsquo financial future Get incontact with Action Fraud online orphone 0300 123 240 and report it
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
39
Chapter 25
TELEPHONE CLASSICS
NATIONAL ACCIDENTS HELPLINE SCAM
The scam
There have been a string of complaints from consumers receiving cold callssome of which have been abusive from scammers pretending to be from theNational Accident Helpline
Yep another cold calling scam
What you can do
Simply put just hang up The National Accident Helpline is committed to nevermaking cold calls and has set up its own lsquoStop Nuisance Callsrsquo campaign tohelp clamp down on unsolicited calls
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
40
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
The scam
If somebody takes your card to complete a payment in a different room theyhave complete power to charge however much they want ndash although of courseitrsquos unlikely this kind of thing will happen in a reputable restaurant or shop Butif yoursquore in a dodgy looking establishment watch out
Skimming can also refer to the criminal practice of scanning credit cards andstealing the card number Hackers place card readers in everyday locations andarrange them so users easily mistake them for authentic readers or scan creditcards with handheld devices that can be easily concealed Once criminalsobtain credit card information they can either use the information to createcounterfeit credit cards or sell the information to third parties
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
41
Chapter 26
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
CARD SKIMMING
What you can do
Itrsquos all about being vigilant and seeking to protect yourself In the case ofavoiding someone hacking your card with a fraudulent reader or scanner justmake sure there are no odd boxes attached to ATMs etcMost venues that take card payments now do this at the table and ask you tokey in your pin where you can see exactly how much you are being chargedIf someone wants you to put your pin in and then takes the card and cardmachine away with them after this itrsquos a red flag It may still be legitimatebut be on your toes Generally speaking if someone disappears with your cardand you donrsquot feel comfortable about them or the establishment itrsquos a signsomething is off
The good thing is that if you use a credit card and make a purchase betweenpound100-pound30000 the money is protected so to speak and wonrsquot be taken fromyour statement at the end of the month if you notify the card issuer of thefraud With debit cards itrsquos trickier as the money immediately leaves your bankaccount Therefore itrsquos always wise to pay with credit rather than debit cards ifyou can ndash although many of these will charge you a fee to use them at ATMsso bear that in mind
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
42
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
The scam
This is where fraudsters somehow get enough information about you to takeover your identity and take out loans credit cards and even instant cash inyour name Obviously they never pay it back
They do it in various ways
Stealing mail ndash from the sorting office Many people have been victims ofhaving their mail stolen
Stealing mail ndash by a neighbour Someone we know is still waiting for thepolice to sort out the pound22000 that was taken out of his account (in three lots ndashof pound5000 pound5000 and pound12000) by his neighbourhellipyes neighbour who hadconvinced their postman that he was the house owner and got all his bankdetails by taking his mail
Garbology ndash people going through your rubbish
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
Firstly get a shredder and shred all paperdocuments that you throw away if theyhave any personal details about you Itrsquoseven worth shredding the ones that justhave your name and address on
So often you donrsquot even know itrsquoshappening Someone may double-swipeyour bank card and use the details to buymobile phone credit
Stolen identities are used by fraudsters to getthemselves a wide variety of goods services andbenefits in the victimrsquos name to fraudulently openbank accounts and get loans and credit in their nameNasty
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
43
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
Itrsquos not just about stealing money either Apparently criminals also use false orstolen identities to help them commit a wide range of crimes from evadingdetection by law enforcement to enabling people-trafficking and terrorism
Criminals usually try and get important documents such as birth certificatespassports and driving licences However they also look for other informationwhich helps steal your identity such as utility bills online passwords accountnumbers and personal identity information which many people still put onsocial networking sites Donrsquot do it Watch carefully what you put on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn
Here are the main ways you can stop yourself havingyour identity stolen
1 Donrsquot throw out anything with your name address or financial detailswithout shredding it first
2 Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anythingsuspicious to the financial institution concerned
3 If yoursquore expecting a statement and it doesnrsquot arrive tell your bank or creditcard company
4 Get regular copies of your credit report from a credit reference agency orbetter get access to your credit report for free for a whole monthhere
5 Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software installed
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
44
Chapter 27
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
ID THEFT
4 Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networkingsites and donrsquot put much personal information up there
5 If you move house always get Royal Mail to redirect your post
6 Donrsquot ignore bills invoices or receipts for things you havenrsquot bought orservices you havenrsquot asked for ndash contact the company immediately
7 When you register to vote tick the box to say you donrsquot want to be includedin the edited electoral register ndash that means your details canrsquot be sold on
If yoursquove been a victim of fraud however embarrassed you feel for being madea fool (and we all do) make sure you report it Go to Actionfraudpoliceuk orcall 0300 123 2040 By working together and speaking out against fraud wecan make the UK more hostile to fraudsters and criminals
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
45
Chapter 28
PERSONAL DETAILS AND ID
PHISING AND SMISHING
The scam
While these words might sound like a load of nonsense they can be lucrativescams for the people behind them Often people receive emails from whatappears to be a legitimate company usually asking for their personal details orto reset their passwords by clicking on a link contained in the email And this ishow the phishers can gain access to bank accounts and personal informationSmishing is similar yet the scam comes in the form of an SMS messageinstead of an email
If you receive an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate companyitrsquos best not to click on any links and donrsquot reply to any texts until you haveverified the source of the message Itrsquos a good idea to contact the realcompany to find out if they have tried to contact you in this way
Last year it appeared in the news that students were being contacted by whatseemed to be the Student Loans Company Students were receiving emailssuggesting that they needed to re-enter their bank details in order to receivetheir loan payments
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
What you can do
One thing to look out for is thatmany of the scam emails and textswill not contain your full name Theymay simply say ldquodear studentrdquo orldquodear customerrdquoHowever legitimate businesses willgenerally address you by your fullname and they will never ask you toreveal your details over email ortextIf in doubt always contact thecompany to verify and you canreport any email to ActionFraudLink
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
46
Chapter 29
THE DARK WEB
Fraudsters on the dark web could buy your entire personal identity for justpound820 according to the UKrsquos first Dark Web Market Price Index by VirtualPrivate Network (VPN) comparison service Top10VPNcom
Bank account logins passport details and even access to your Netflix accountare worth money to bidders on dark web markets - but the low price point ofthis information will spark concerns that valuable personal details are all tooreadily available to would-be swindlers online
The average person has dozens of accounts that make up their online identity -all of which can be hacked and sold Top10VPNcomrsquos team of security expertsreviewed tens of thousands of listings on three of the most popular dark webmarkets Dream Point and Wall Street Market
The research found that while bank details will fetch in the vicinity of pound168 andPaypal logins around pound280 many important personal details are changinghands at a much lower price point
Dark web bidders can get hold of your passport details for as little as pound40while access to online shopping accounts such as Amazon and Tesco are rarelyworth much more than pound5 Even eBay accounts with their broad scope forfraud fetch just pound26 on the dark web
Vital communications services like Skype and T-Mobile are worth considerablyless than a tenner each With these details fraudsters could send messagescontaining phishing links to trusted contacts or get around security featuresthat rely on SMS verification
On the dark web even logins to dating sites like Matchcom are valuable andtend to earn bidders on average pound224 - allowing criminals to lsquocatfishrsquo potentialmatches sparking up relationships to manipulate people for financial gain
TOP SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THEM | PAGE
![Protect Yourself from These IRS Scams [Infographic]](https://static.fdocuments.net/doc/165x107/58a64df11a28ab6e368b61df/protect-yourself-from-these-irs-scams-infographic.jpg)
