Scam Avoidance

Any advice is only as good as the day it was written and can never fully cover the current situation.   Scams can originate in numerous ways. For him - read as him/her/them

Is this a COLD CALL?  Your first alert!!  Be suspicious.   Did you ask for him to come to your door?   Telephone you?    Contact you by email?  etc      If NOT Take this as a First Warning. Ask yourself. Why should this stranger be offering to look after my interests?    For Free/Favour?   What is in it for him?   Don't be afraid to shut the door, put down the phone, delete that email.  Even the most savvy persons have been fooled by scammers, so never feel that you are too embarrassed to admit it may have happened to you.

Don’t divulge ANY information about yourself. Whilst you are in contact he could be accessing your data.  Verbal or written.  Don’t answer any of his questions. They can sound very plausible. They are clever.  This is how they make a living.  If it SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE - then it PROBABLY IS.

Everytime there is NEWS of a new law, rule, system or crisis there will be NEW SCAMS.  Scammer's take advantage of our lack of understanding and general worries about how it might affect us.  Watch out for  ‘We can save you… /Someone is using your Amazon/,,,, We failed to deliver…

BANKS will never ask you to transfer money between accounts.   Any doubts STOP, HANG UP, contact your bank immediately. Don’t wait - Time is critical.   Phone the number on the back of your bank or credit card.   This will take you through to YOUR bank’s Advisor. (if you cannot find the number - CALL 159 for help)   Don't make money transfers except by your known and proven route.

NEVER let yourself be PANICKED or TIME PRESSURED.   MAKING DECISIONS in HASTE will usually mean REPENTING that DECISION for a long time.  Remember you can afford to wait - the scammer cannot - he will be anxious to get you to give him access to your data.  He wants you to do something that will give him the key to your money.

SOCIAL MEDIA - do not use this method to make any important decisions. Be very aware of starting an on-line dating relationship, particularly if asked for money urgently needed.

If your EMAIL has ATTACHMENTS or LINKS DON’T OPEN them until YOU are certain that they are OK?  When you use your computer make a HABIT of CHECKING the ADDRESS at the TOP of SCREEN.  Is it genuine?  Look at the very beginning for a LOCK symbol or https indicating a secure site.    The next part must match the company exactly.    Same Service provider? The last part refers to country eg .uk  Be aware scammers are clever.  They impersonate real companies, logos, phone numbers, email addresses.

Scammed email and address books - there is a spate of these purporting to be from someone you know.  Is the language used exactly what you would expect from that supposed person?  The sender’s address at the top of the screen may appear to be correct, or on careful inspection may have a subtle change, like a different email provider. Send it to spam. Don’t open links. Phone the real person to discuss with him. 

Had a ROYAL MAIL “failed delivery” text to your phone, especially if you are expecting something?   Don’t click on the link. Spam it. This is just a snapshot of what is around.  Get more information . Don’t wait until you think that you might have a problem. It also could be from others like Amazon, Evri, DPD, etc   Consult someone you trust, who is more knowledgeable than you, about your real expected deliveries.  Dont press any buttons on your phone - “press 1 to……”Do NOT click on links, press any buttons on your phone, download any links, QR codes etc

WHO ELSE CAN YOU CONTACT for help and advice.

Linda Griffin at Age UK Somerset - in conjunction with North Somerset Trading Standards   Scams Advice Officer     Tel: 0744 398 3505    E-mail: lin.griffin@ageuksomerset.org.uk   Trading Standards South West  www.tssw.org.uk/scamwise - ask for their booklet “Be Scam Wise”     AgeUK  www.ageuk.org.uk  - ask for their booklet  “Avoiding Scams”

OTHER PLACES for ADVICE

https://bank.marksandspencer.com/fraud-and-security/common-scams/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/be-scam-safe-week

TO HELP OTHERS - Report every scam, even if it didn't work on you,:

Forward suspicious texts to 7726, and emails to report@phishing.gov.uk

Report fraud directly to companies involved, so they can alert other customers

Visit - Govt - https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-call