| WhatsApp ‘friend of family member in need’ scam Scammers have been messaging WhatsApp users claiming to be a friend or family member in need of help. They’ll claim they have a problem with their phone and that they’re contacting you on a temporary number. They then ask for money to help pay for it to be fixed or to help pay an urgent bill. It’s a scam! If you receive a message like this, call your friend or family member on their original number to check that the message is genuine. |
| Would you know if you’ve been a victim of a ‘sim-swap scam? A sim-swap scam happens when a criminal obtains enough information to pose as you and uses it to trick your mobile network provider into transferring your phone number to a sim card in their possession. Gaining control of your mobile number allows a fraudster to receive all calls and texts intended for you – including the one-time security passcodes for online banking. It also allows them to intervene if we try to contact you to warn you about suspicious activity on your account. If you ever notice anything unusual such as sudden changes in service or unusual messages from your provider, call them immediately using a trusted number from their website to check there is nothing untoward happening. The quicker you react, the quicker you can stop them in their tracks! |
| Advance Fee Scams £32.1 million was lost to Advance Fee Scams in the UK during 2021.* Advance Fee Scams happen when you are convinced to pay an ‘upfront fee’ which can be in relation to background checks for a new job, a competition prize, inheritance or a loan which never materialises. Avoid paying a fee upfront unless you know that who you are dealing with is genuine and remember; |
| Question claims that you’re due money for goods or services that you haven’t ordered or are unware of. It’s unlikely that you’ve won a lottery or competition that you haven’t entered, and which requires an upfront fee. Be vigilant to recruiters/employers emails asking for upfront fees. Especially if they’re using platforms that businesses would be unlikely to use, such as Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo. |