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Common Scams
Lewis Collantine &Clare Cunningham
Thurrock Trading Standards
8th September 2015
Oxford English Dictionary
“A dishonest scheme; a fraud”
Synonyms: Con, trick, swindle, fraud
Scams = a crime!!
What is a scam?
Lottery
Common scams
Dating
Investment
Pensions
Computer Virus
Prize Draws
Loans
Bogus Websites
Pyramid Selling
Phishing
Bank Courier
Doorstep
• 48% of people in the UK have been targeted by a scam
• 3.2m people fall victim each year• £3.5bn lost to scammers each year• Only 5% of scams are reported
Telephone (38%) Online (20%)
Email (14%) Doorstep (14%)
Facts and figures
• Loss of money (or life savings)• Debt• Loss of confidence• Feelings of guilt or stupidity• Depression• Poor health• Identity fraud• Emotional trauma (for families too)
Impact on victims
Think Jessica video
Prize draw scam
• You receive a letter informing you that you’ve won a prize
• Letter appears to be “official”• You need to pay a fee or buy £15
worth of products to receive it• Passport / bank statement• More letters start arriving
Letters received by a pensioner in just one month
Reality: You haven’t won a prize
• Never respond to these letters• If you have responded, stop all future contact• If you have provided your bank details, report it
to your bank immediately• Report to Action Fraud• Warn your friends and family
Prize draw scam – advice
Pensions scam
• You receive a call, text, email or visit to your home
• Offered a “free pension review” or investment opportunity
• Early access to pension fund for under 55s
• Build up your trust and encourage you to transfer your pension fund
Would you trust a fraudster with your pension pot?
Reality: You may lose your life savings
• Keep calm and hang up!• Report to Action Fraud• Conduct your own research• Contact the Pensions Advisory Service or
Money Advice Service• Warn your friends and family
Pensions scam – advice
Computer virus scam
• Phone call advising that your computer is infected with a virus
• Caller is from “Microsoft” or another large IT company
• Advised to download software to remove the virus
• May be asked to pay a fee of £50+ Would you let a fraudster access your computer?
Reality: Your computer is probably not infected
• Keep calm and hang up!• Report to Action Fraud• Report to your bank• Download antivirus software• Warn your friends and family
Computer virus scam – advice
Bank courier scam
• Phone call from your bank regarding suspicious transactions
• Advised to hang up and dial number on the back of your card
• They don’t hang up and pose as your bank
• Security questions and PIN number• Courier collects your card
Would you let a fraudster use your debit or credit card?
Reality: Fraudsters will have your card and PIN
• Keep calm and hang up!• Your bank will never ask your PIN number or
send a courier to your home• Using a different phone line, report to your bank• Report to Action Fraud• Warn your friends and family
Bank courier scam – advice
Doorstep crime
• Unsolicited doorstep caller or a leaflet through your door
• Driveways, roofing, tree cutting, landscaping etc.
• Work may not need doing• Quotes given verbally• Very little paperwork
Source: BBC Rogue Traders
Reality: Poor / unfinished work and overpayment
• Don’t agree to work from doorstep callers• Report to Trading Standards and Police• Conduct your own research• Find a Buy With Confidence trader• Obtain 2 or 3 written quotes• Don’t pay for work upfront• Warn your friends and family
Doorstep crime – advice
• Keep calm and hang up!• Report to Action Fraud• Conduct your own research• Check letters / emails for spelling mistakes• Shred letters containing your personal details• Your bank will never ask your PIN number or
send a courier to your home• Warn your friends and family
Top tips
• Report to Action Fraud– www.actionfraud.police.uk– 0300 123 2040
• Advice from Citizens Advice– www.adviceguide.org.uk/scamaware– 03454 04 05 06
• Guidance from Age UK– www.ageuk.org.uk/scams (0800 169 6565)
Further information
Questions?
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