If in doubt, just hang up

CONSUMER research from FFA UK found the top three factors which would make us more likely to trust a stranger over the phone were among the common tricks Dr Breen found fraudsters used. When asked to rank factors that made us more likely to trust a stranger over the phone, the most popular was “sounding like a nice person”, chosen by 46% of people. This was followed by “sounding like they know what they’re talking about”, chosen by 42%, while nearly a third (30%) listed “offering to help with a problem”. So if you find yourself on the phone to a stranger, remember that the Take Five campaign says you should never disclose security details, such as your PIN or password.

Do not allow yourself to be pressured into doing something you wouldn’t normally do, such as transferring money into a stranger’s bank account.

If in doubt, put the phone down.