Scams - face to face and online
COVID Vaccine Scam Jan 202107/01/2021 Weekly Policing Update - Scam Awareness Information 24/03/2020 12:04:28 [315998]
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Dear St Ives and Villages Ecops Subscribers, |
Telephone and online (World Wide Web/Internet) scams are illegal ways of getting money under false pretences.
They are many and varied and can be very convincing so you have be alert.
There are new scams constantly being created and because of the growing risk it was decided to create this information page.
Other Information Sources
The Metropolitan Police, click on 'The little book of BIG scams 2nd Ed.' in the files at the bottom of this page.
Money Magpie - go to this site by clicking www.moneymagpie.com and then search for 'scams'.
The latest scam, we are aware of, will be described here and there are links to other sites with comprehensive lists.
Reporting Scams
Contact Action Fraud by clicking: http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ where you can report incidents online.
Report any suspicious activity in your area via the non emergency number 101 or anonymously via Crime stoppers on 0800-555111.
Latest Scam in this area - April 2017
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December 2016
This is a message sent via eCops. This information has been sent on behalf of Action Fraud (National Fraud Intelligence Bureau) |
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Message sent by |
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National) |
Lloyds customers should be on the lookout for a new sophisticated fraud that involves fraudsters sending fake bank letters.
The convincing letters being sent are a replica template from Lloyds and include their logo, address and signature from a customer service representative.
The letter tells recipients that there have been some “unusual transactions” on their personal account and asks them to call a number highlighted in bold to confirm they are genuine.
When victims call the number, an automated welcome message is played and the caller is asked to enter their card number, account number and sort code followed by their date of birth.Victims are then instructed to enter the first and last digit of their security number.
The fraud was spotted by the Daily Telegraph who was alerted to it by a reader who had three identical letters sent to an office address. On separate occasions the Daily Telegraph ran some tests using fake details and were passed to fraudsters who claimed to be from a Lloyds contact centre. The bank has confirmed that the phone number and letters are fake.
The letters are essentially a sophisticated phishing attempt and serves as a warning to consumers to question written correspondence from their banks.
Remember Banks will never ask for your account deatails by post or telephone.
If you are ever suspicious about correspondence from your bank you should call the customer serviced number on the back of their card.
To report a fraud and cyber crime, call us on 0300 123 2040 or visit http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud
Telephone Preference Service
A person phones and suggests that she is acting on behalf of the telephone preference service and the government and states that they can stop all unwanted calls.
It at first sounds authentic as they give out details of your name, address and sometimes the first four digits of the card they say you pay your phone bill on (obviously they are guessing, you hope).
They then say they need a small fee for the service and start to ask about expiry details of your card etc.
If you say this is a Scam they will provide their supervisors contact details which are bogus.
The official Telephone Prevention Service is free - click here for details.
HMRC Telephone Scam
Fraudsters pretending to be from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are expanding their unscrupulous activities after years of sending out fake emails to now phoning unsuspecting consumers – and some are duping victims into paying them in gift cards and vouchers.
If you get a phone call from somebody saying they are HMRC following up payment of outstanding tax and asking you
to press '1' - DON'T - JUST HANG UP. If you do press 1 and you are asked to pay by getting pre-paid vouchers and passing on the voucher numbers then you will lose that money!
This is a message sent via eCops. This information has been sent on behalf of Action Fraud (National Fraud Intelligence Bureau) |
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Message sent by |
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National) |
Courier fraudsters have been identifying themselves to victims on the telephone as “Detective Constable Martin Benton of New Scotland Yard Fraud Department”. The fraudsters will invent a story regarding fraudulent activity on your card and request your bank/card details.
No such person exists at the Metropolitan Police. If you receive a call from someone purporting to be this individual, terminate the call immediately.
Protect yourself against courier fraud:
- Your bank will never send a courier to your home
- Your bank and the police will never collect your bank card
- Your bank and the police will never ask for your PIN
- If you receive one of these calls end it immediately
Victim Advice:
- If you have handed over any details to the fraudster, call your bank and cancel your cards immediately.
- ?If you want to call your bank, then do it from another telephone.
If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud you can report it online http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud or by telephone 0300 123 2040.
March 2015
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Message sent by |
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National) |
Action Fraud has seen an increase in the amount of victims signing up for free trials for unapproved or misleading pharmaceuticals or supplements.
The scam usually involves a ‘pop up’ on your computer or a text message advertising a free 14-day trial. In signing up to this trial you are asked for your credit or debit card details and after the 14 days have elapsed, recurring payments are taken.
Recurring payments or continuous payment authorities are similar to a direct debit, but can be much harder to cancel or identify who is debiting your account. In most cases victims are finding it extremely difficult to cancel the subscription and the products are either not delivered or are inferior.
Common pharmaceuticals or supplements being advertised are teeth whitening products, food supplements and slimming tablets.
Protect Yourself
- If you desire such products speak to your GP or a local pharmacist.
- Be vigilant of free trials and always read the Terms and Conditions.
- Conduct basic online research of the company before registering your details and financial information.
It is important to remember that in most free-trial cases because you have paid for a product and received it, this cannot be recorded as a fraud. If you have already entered your card details on one of these websites, call up you bank immediately to stop these payments and give us a call on 0300 123 2040 for advice.
This is a message sent via eCops. This information has been sent on behalf of Action Fraud (National Fraud Intelligence Bureau) |
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Scam postcards are being delivered to UK residents’ homes claiming that a parcel containing “jewellery” is waiting for the homeowner.
Jan 2015 This
is a message sent via eCops. This information has been sent on behalf of Cambridgeshire Constabulary
The "police officer" telephone scam came to light again yesterday. We received 6 calls from elderly residents in Huntingdonshire where the caller claimed to be a Metropolitan police officer from the "Serious Fraud Office" stating that they had people in custody in relation to money transactions who were in possession of their personal details. Attempts then made to coerce personal and bank details from the victims and asking them to withdraw money from their bank. Unfortunately on one occasion the victim passed over £10,000 to a male who attended his address to collect the money. It is likely that more calls were made which have not been reported to police. If you received a call or know either a friend, neighbour or family member who did please let us know, call us on our non-emergency number 101.
Neither banks nor the police will call and ask you to pass personal or bank details over the phone - please pass this onto friends and family and keep an eye on any vulnerable neighbours.
Report any suspicious activity in your area via the above number or anonymously via Crime stoppers on 0800-555111.
Regards,
Dave Griffin
Other Information Sources
The Metropolitan Police, click on 'The little book of BIG scams 2nd Ed.' in the files at the bottom of this page.
Money Magpie - go to this site by clicking www.moneymagpie.com and then search for 'scams'.
Reporting Scams
Contact Action Fraud by clicking: http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ where you can report incidents online.
Report any suspicious activity in your area via the non emergency number 101 or anonymously via Crime stoppers on 0800-555111.