Watch Your Pocket

Don't be fooled into believing a message is genuine because it has popped up in an open thread that you may have had with your bank, health care provider or even family & friends 📲

Unfortunately, fraudsters can accomplish this with the touch of a button

The public is being warned about a new Santander phishing scam that is targeting its UK customers 🏦

If you receive a suspicious-looking email or text message please forward it to: [email protected]

The best way to fight fraud is to never become a victim in the first place. Victims can often struggle to get justice while obtaining a refund from your bank can also be difficult 🤔

Not to mention the damage that can be done to your credit file, which is sometimes unrepairable

Fraud victims rarely receive justice as only 1 in every 200 fraud cases leads to a prosecution 👨‍⚖️

There were more than 936,000 offences between April 2021 and March 2022, but Home Office data shows that less than 5,000 suspects were charged

Synthetic identity fraud is one of the fastest-growing forms of identity theft - and the hardest to identify 🔎

Fraudsters use a blend of both real and fake details to create a whole new identity profile that they use to apply for various credit-based products #

If you are offered an investment opportunity, and the payment method is a cryptocurrency, it is most likely a scam 🚨

Crypto is used by fraudsters as it is almost impossible to trace, which means the chances of you getting your money back are virtually impossible too #

Some really simple but effective tips on how to protect yourself from fraud:

Never share personal info over the phone 🪪

Never give out your PIN ❌

Do not transfer or withdraw money on the instruction of an unexpected caller 📞

Never give your bank card to a courier or someone you do not know 💳

Operation Signature is a campaign operated by Sussex Police which aims to identify and support vulnerable victims of fraud 🫂

The majority of the 543 cases reported targeted women aged 75+. Of those cases, 185 suffered a loss, with the fraudsters walking away with £3.6 million

Here are 3 very simple steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of identity fraud:

Never share personal details over social media 🪪

Enable multi-factor authentication for all online accounts 🔐

Contact companies directly if in doubt over emails, text messages or calls🤳

According to reports from Experian, identity fraud cases have risen by 21% over the last 12 months and will continue to grow heading into the new year 📈

Remain extra vigilant this winter, as fraudsters will undoubtedly ramp up their attempts to steal your personal and financial information

Why you should never take a call from your "bank" while driving

Lloyds customer loses £25,000 in sophisticated phone scam A couple has been conned out of £25,000 after fraudsters tricked them into believing that their credit card had been used.

With the Black Friday sales fast approaching, Barclays UK is warning shoppers to be on the lookout for scams 🛍️

A survey carried out by the bank found that scams increased by 34% during this period, with an average loss of around £1,000 per person #

The Twitter Blue subscription service has only recently been announced, but there have already been reports of numerous phishing scams utilising it to trick users into providing personal details 🪪

Users are reminded to remain extra vigilant during the initial rollout

Remember that your bank or building society will never ask you to move money or make purchases of any kind

Fraudster who stole £280k from victim faces jail A fraudster who pretended to be a bank employee to trick a customer into handing over their bank card has been jailed.

The Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) is warning households to be on the lookout for scams aimed at those eligible for the £324 cost of living payment

Those who are eligible for the payment are reminded that there is no need to apply as all payments are made automatically

Cryptocurrency scams usually start with an offer or deal that seems truly extraordinary.

Social media is the primary tool used by fraudsters to attract their victims, promising "amazing returns" and supplying fake testimonies from their other "clients" #

Cryptocurrency scams are on the rise yet again, with some victims losing vast amounts of money 💰

Scams vary, from the super sophisticated to the very basic, but all are extremely dangerous and have the potential to cause a significant amount of financial damage.

Cryptocurrency is often the preferred payment method for fraudsters with scams such as investment fraud and in general virtual currency is used because it is notoriously hard to trace, and therefore victims have little to no chance of ever getting their money back

Money mule warning signs:

🔴Someone you don't know asks you to move money for them and offers you a cut

🔴An opportunity is presented as having "no risks" and easy "instant cash"

🔴The opportunity is never really explained in any great detail

#

Fraudsters are known to employ various methods to lure unsuspecting victims into becoming money mules ⚠️

Under the instruction of the fraudsters, these individuals accept illegally obtained money into their bank account before transferring it to another account.

Even if an individual has been duped into becoming a money mule, they will still be the ones who have to face the consequences.

Your bank accounts will be closed, your ability to obtain credit will be damaged, and you face up to 14 years in prison if prosecuted

Be wary when presented with offers or deals that sound too good to be true.

It is usually a red flag that something is not quite right, as fraudsters use these fantastic "deals" to entice their victims.

Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it most probably is

With Christmas fast approaching, it's a great time to get familiar with the simple steps you can take to ensure you stay safe while shopping online 🎄

A wide range of online scams are already being used to trick consumers out of their money. Social media is expected to play a significant role in many of the scams that are carried out this Christmas.

Using the Get Safe Online Check a Website service is a great way to verify whether a website you are visiting is genuine or not

Due to the recent takeover of Twitter by Elon Musk, users may start ton receive notifications regarding their verification status but not just yet.

So, if you receive an email informing you of problems with your verification status, be sure to ignore and delete it

Fraudsters are now targeting verified Twitter users with a wave of new phishing scams ⚠️

The emails inform the recipient that their verified status has been removed and that they must click on a link to resolve the issue. The unfortunate Twitter users who fall for this phishing scam are taken to a phoney webpage where their personal information is stolen.

There have also been some reports of users being sent bogus two-factor authentication codes via text message

Romance fraudsters steal £600k from victims.....

London based fraudsters jailed for £600k romance scam Two London-based fraudsters have been jailed for their part in a romance scam that saw several victims lose a total of £674,000.

Empty, rented or properties without a mortgage are most at risk from property fraud.

If homeowners don’t have a mortgage and don’t live in the property, they can take out a restriction via the HM Land Registry for just £40

Reports of property fraud are rising, with fraudsters renting properties, paying the rent and council tax but not moving in.

They then order a new driver's license in the property owner's name, alter the photo, access utilities, open bank accounts and sell the property

Utility provider Anglian Water is urging people to remain extra vigilant after receiving reports of customers being targeted by bogus callers.

Call Anglian Water's priority services team on 0800 232 1951 or visit anglianwater.co.uk/priority if you have received a suspicious call

Be wary of suspicious phone calls aimed at tricking you into revealing personal information.

The caller will usually start by confirming some basic details to build trust before asking you to provide sensitive data that will be used to commit fraud

The cost of living crisis is forcing people to look for alternative ways of making money, increasing their exposure to fraud.

According to UK Finance, over 56% of the population is looking to raise extra money to deal with the rising costs

Fraudsters are using the current cost of living crisis to prey on desperate families struggling to make ends meet.

Advanced payment scams - where criminals ask for upfront fees in return for loans that do not exist are the current method of choice