Protect Your Money from Fraud & Scams

A scam is when someone tricks you into giving them money for a fake service or product.

If you think you've been scammed:

1. Don't panic!
2. Contact your bank. Use the number on the back of your card.
3. Report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

The techniques used by criminals are often deceptive and may instill fear, panic, or even create a false sense of friendship. In essence, social engineering aims to manipulate individuals into doing things they wouldn't normally do.

Some examples of this include convincing you into sending money to a fraudulent account, granting access to your device, or unknowingly disclosing personal or sensitive information to a criminal.

Be cautious and stay vigilant.

Remote Access

Criminals may convince you to give them control over your device using apps like AnyDesk or TeamViewer. Don't click any links or give access to unknown parties.

- Remote access scams aim to steal money or financial information.

- Never grant remote access unless you trust the caller.

- Don't open banking apps or windows during remote access.

These are common methods used by criminals:

- Phishing (emails)

- Smishing (text messages)

- Vishing (phone calls)

Fraudsters can make these messages look authentic and sound convincing. Always verify the source before responding.

There are lots of different types of scams and fraud:

• HMRC scams
• Romance and friendship scams
• Investment scams
• Purchase scams
• Impersonation scams
• Safe Account Scams
• Invoice or mandate scams
• Cryptocurrency fraud
• SIM swapping
• Identity theft
• Money Mules
• Card fraud
• Advance fee scams
• WhatsApp impersonation scams
• Digital wallet fraud

Beware of criminals pretending to be HMRC through text, email, phone calls, or social media. They might use fake HMRC details and ask for urgent payment or click on a link.

If you receive a suspicious message:

• Do not pay or click any links
• Check your outstanding tax amount directly with HMRC on the GOV.UK website
• Do not trust the displayed phone number or email as they can be fake

Protect yourself by never sharing personal or financial information and never feeling pressured to comply with unexpected requests. HMRC would also never discuss a tax rebate or refund through email.

Criminals may trick you into thinking they want a relationship or friendship. They create fake profiles with false information. These scammers may spend time building your trust or move quickly. They'll ask for money using reasons like travel costs or hospital bills.

To protect yourself:

• Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person.
• Watch out for warning signs and stay cautious, even if the person seems caring.
• Verify the person's identity by checking their profile and photos.
• Use a reverse image search on a web search engine to check if the photos are genuine.

Here are some tips to avoid being tricked into fake or worthless investments:

• Be wary of unsolicited emails, messages, or calls offering investments. Did you know that cold calling for investments is illegal?
• Stay away from 'limited time' offers that pressure you into making a quick decision.
• Don't fall for pushy and persistent sales pitches.
• Watch out for clone companies with similar names to legitimate ones, or those asking you to keep your investment a secret.

ScamSmart is a tool that helps you spot the difference between real investments and scams, created by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Always check the FCA register to verify the legitimacy of the company and the investment.

Stay smart and informed to protect yourself from investment scams with ScamSmart.

• Beware of fake companies and clones, only contact firms listed on the FCA register.
• Be cautious of unsolicited investment offers, especially on social media. Do your own research and seek advice from a trustworthy financial advisor.
• Take extra precautions with cryptocurrencies - never allow anyone to set up a wallet or manage your investments remotely.
• Don't fall for professional-looking websites, advertisements, or social media posts. Scammers often impersonate well-known brands and people to trick you.
• Never download software or apps that give someone remote access to your devices ie anydesk.

Scammers Can Trick You Online

• Criminals trick people by posing as real sellers or companies
• They advertise on social media, fake websites, or hacked accounts

Don't Fall for Buying Scams

• Scammers can sell fake products like holidays, tickets, or materials
• If you pay, you may never hear back or receive the wrong item

Watch Out for Selling Scams Too

• Scammers can cheat you when you're selling online
• They might not pay you or trick you into sending more money back

If you're shopping online, be aware of these warning signs:

• An item priced much lower than its value
• The seller pressuring you to complete the sale
• Receiving an overpayment and being asked to send back the difference
• A stranger requesting unconventional payment methods

Always be cautious when buying items you can't see in person on Facebook Marketplace to avoid scams.

This can happen through phone calls, social media messages, and even emails.

- They may pose as your bank or a trusted organization, convincing you to transfer money into an account they control.

- Be cautious of any requests for money from seemingly trustworthy sources.

- Be wary of social media messages from strangers, especially on platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

- Scammers may use spoofing to manipulate caller ID or email addresses, making it seem like they are contacting you through a legitimate source.

Safe account scams

• Criminals may pretend to be someone else to steal your money illegally.

Follow these steps to safeguard your money:

1. Be careful when someone tells you to move your money to keep it "safe."
2. Your bank, and no legitimate organization, will ask you to move your money to keep it safe.
3. If you're contacted, be wary and double-check before taking any action.
4. If the call is from your bank, dial 159. This will connect you directly to your bank.
5. Criminals might even tell you to lie to your bank. If this has happened, let your bank know immediately.

Make sure you're talking to the right person before acting.

Think twice before parting with your money

Verify by calling on a trusted number, like the one on their website.

Don't Fall for Scams - Protect Your Money!

Invoice fraud is when criminals send fake bills to trick people into making payments. They may pretend to be a service provider and ask you to change bank details.

To spot invoice fraud, watch out for:

• Unusual spelling and grammar
• Requests to change payment details
• Minor discrepancies on headed paper
• Slight changes in email addresses

To protect yourself, always confirm payment requests are legitimate before paying or changing details. Call a known number or verify with the recipient.

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Final Note.. don't fall for unexpected payment requests.

• Don't answer private unknown calls or respond to unknown emails or messages
• Contact family/friends using a different channel to confirm the payment request, verbally or face to face.
• Stay calm and reach out to your bank for assistance.
• Remember to always be cautious and protect yourself from possible scam attempts.