The New Scams Out There …

Scammers are always on the lookout for on a new angle to try and scam you. So it pays to be one step ahead and to keep your wits about you.

They pretend to be someone they aren’t. They may say they are from the police, bank or any other legitimate organization. They go on to trick you into giving them your personal details.  They might use the angle that there has been a security issue on your account and give you details of your new account and then ask you to transfer your money over to your ‘new’ account as their system is down …or something along those lines. In truth, you would be transferring your money not to your account but to scammers account.

Protect Yourself Tips: Never give out your details, personal or pin, to anyone. If you become suspicious in the middle of a call, get their name and number and hang up. Ring your bank using the number on your statement but make sure you have a dialing tone first as scammers know you will be doing this and will stay on the line to try and intercept your call.

They pretend to be a helpful service when they just charging you fees. You’re trying to renew your driving license or passport etc and you find a site that promises to help and in record time…at a cost. Those same services are actually free.

Protect Yourself Tips: Use the gov.uk website for renewing things and when you pay online always check the web address ( the www bit at the very top of your screen) starts with https. This is secure. If it’s just HTTP it’s not secure.

Some nice chap from Microsoft or Google calls you to tell you that you have a virus on your computer. They will even offer software that will fix it at a price. In fact, they are giving you software that lets them see all your personal stuff so not only will they see your pics from Magaluf last year but also your bank passwords etc.

Protect Yourself Tips: Hang immediately. ( Google and Microsoft are more concerned with world domination to care if you did have a virus they won’t be calling you) If, though, you did download the software report it immediately to Action Fraud 0300 123 2040 and tell your bank too.

Yay, you’re getting a rebate from HMRC, well the email looks like it’s from HMRC so it must be true? No, it’s just scammers asking for your bank details to get to all your money.

Protect Yourself Tips: HMRC will never use email to tell you about a rebate or to ask for personal details.

 

It’s a good idea to never click email links but to go to the web address you know. If in doubt, check with the organization first. And the old but very true rule – if it seems to good to be true it normally is.