Don’t fall victim to the scammers
We offer tips on how to keep your cash safe as figures show crooks have conned people out of £145 million in six months
FINANCIAL fraudsters are out in force and coming up with sophisticated scams to take your money.
Some £145 million was stolen in the first six months of this year by crooks who persuaded people to transfer cash into dodgy accounts.
But just £31million of that was refunded to victims, leaving countless people with shattered lives. Here is how you can help stop the scammers...
Realise con artists are inventive
THE main reason so many people get caught out is that fraudsters keep changing methods, with believable scams that can be difficult to spot.
They try to catch people out with cold calls, emails and texts, pretending to be from banks, building societies, credit card firms and the taxman – and they send out official-looking correspondence complete with logos.
They set up bogus websites selling everything from holidays to cars and fake investments.
People are lured in via social media with too-good-to-miss deals on products such as computers. Fraudsters also cash in on data breaches at high-profile firms by impersonating officials just after a hack to catch customers off guard.
Hang up on cold callers
HANG up on cold calls straight away. Do not rely on caller ID as thieves can spoof phone numbers to look like they are calling from a trusted person.
If you think your bank is trying to contact you, or you want to check something, use the number on your bank card or on the bank’s official website.
Use a different phone to the one the cold call came in on. Crooks often stay on the line after people hang up and then pretend to be the bank or organisation you are trying to call.
Double check all emails
NEVER click on links in emails. Double-check the sender’s address matches the genuine website address by rolling your mouse pointer over the sender’s name to reveal its true identity.
Other warning signs are errors in spelling and grammar, and if they do not contain your proper name, i.e. they are addressed to Dear Customer. And always be cautious of vague details such as a PO Box address or mobile-only number.
Beware of texts
DO not believe a text is always from a genuine organisation. Rogues have found a way to send texts which appear in the same chain of messages as those from your bank or building society.
These often contain links that take you to a fake website to get you to disclose personal and financial information.
Or they give out bogus phone numbers. Always type in official website addresses from scratch and only call firms on numbers you know are genuine.
Set rules for remote access
DO not allow someone remote access to your computer after a cold call. Do not log on to banking if someone is remotely connected to your computer. And never do online banking or carry out financial transactions over free wifi connections – such as on trains.
Don’t make transfers
ONE key way fraudsters lure people into transferring cash is by posing as someone from a bank or an official body such as the police.
They explain cash needs to be moved for safety reasons. Banks or the police will never get you to transfer money to a new account because of suspected fraud.
No need for speed
DO not be rushed into anything. A genuine organisation will not mind if you check the person is who they say they are.
Limited-time offers that pressure you into taking action should set alarm bells ringing.
Always opt for two-step verification when you can. That means you get a text message when you try to log in from somewhere new. That will prevent fraudsters getting into your accounts without having access to your mobile phone.
Guard your details carefully
NEVER give out personal information, account details or security information such as passwords or PINs. Your bank or organisation such as the police or HMRC will never ask for these.
Make devices tough to crack
MAKE sure you install anti-virus software on your computer and keep it updated. Help secure mobile devices with measures such as fingerprints and codes.
Choose passwords that are difficult to guess – a mix of upper and lower case, numbers and punctuation. Do not use the same passwords for several accounts.
If in doubt...
IF in doubt contact Action Fraud via actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 204. They might know of a scam in your area and your report could