Police fraud expert: Stay calm to protect yourself from scams

Phone scams have risen sharply during lockdown as opportunistic criminals create panic to dupe victims into handing over bank details.

Police in Renfrewshire, who are in the middle of a four- week financial harm prevention campaign, highlighted widespread ‘vishing’ frauds operating across the region and beyond.

Cruel criminals posing as legitimate businesses or government organisations con victims into providing security and banking details over the telephone.

It has been revealed one Renfrewshire man lost £24,000 after he handed over his details only for the crooks to take out a huge loan in his name.

Chief Inspector Rebecca Gregson, Safer Communities Lead for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Division, said that these types of scams have increased during the pandemic.

Vishing is often achieved by the scammer making the victim believe they need to take urgent action to protect their money or personal information.

Although these crimes often target older and more vulnerable people it also impacts on all members of the community due to scammers creating a real sense of immediate fear and loss.

CI Gregson said: “Be alert to the following signs to protect yourself and your family from these vishing scams.

“The caller may claim to be from a legitimate company, bank or government department to gain your trust.

“The caller may sound official and say they are from a department you would normally identify as a protective role eg the fraud department.”

She added: “The caller will usually inform you that the matter is urgent to make you panic so you will tell them your personal information so that they can help you.

“The caller might already know some of your personal details to gain your trust.”

Some typical vishing scams involve the caller saying you are about to lose money from your bank account, you have failed to make a payment or you are due a windfall of money through a refund, free grant or lottery win.

CI Gregson added: “Banks, companies and government departments will not cold call you like this so be suspicious of the call from the outset.

“Remain calm, listen to what they are saying and hang up the call if you suspect it to be a scam.

If you do not recognised the telephone number, do not answer your landline or mobile telephone and let it divert to answer machine.

“Research the telephone number on the internet to see who the potential caller is.

“This will help you decide if it is a legitimate caller or it is a scam telephone number reported by other members of the public.

“Do not press requested prompts during the call e.g. press 1, # or the * button.

“Finally, do not use the number provided by the potential scammer to call them back to verify who called you.

“Always use the number on an official letter, bank card and internet page for the company to call them back or attend at the company or bank to seek advice.

“Another really useful thing to try is to call the bank or company back on another telephone line, scammers have developed methods of keeping the original telephone line open and can intercept the call when you call back.

“Remember, a legitimate bank or financial organisation will never call you directly and ask for your security details or for you to transfer your money.”

If you have been a victim of vishing, please contact your bank so they can protect your bank account and cancel your bank cards.

If you know someone who is vulnerable to scammers and rogue traders please consider applying for a call blocking device from Trading Standards Scotland.

For further information on the top ten vishing scams in Scotland visit https://www.tsscot. co.uk/?s=top+10+scams&id=512

If you believe you or someone you know has been a victim of a Vishing scam then please contact us on 101, or 999 in an emergency.

The caller will usually inform you that the matter is urgent to make you panic