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?