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Fake romance to missed deliveries: How to protect yourself from three common scams
TL;DR
Last year, UK Finance reported four million fraud cases, with many unreported. A former contestant lost £40,000 to a phishing scam, highlighting the prevalence of scams like fake messages and missed deliveries.
Key points
- Four million fraud cases reported in the UK last year
- Sam Little lost £40,000 to a phishing scam
- Common scams include fake messages and missed deliveries
- Many fraud cases go unreported
Nobody thinks they will become the victim of a scam, until they are.
A record four million cases of fraudsters stealing money were registered last year, according to UK Finance, a banking trade body - with plenty more going unreported.
Sam Little, a 35-year-old former contestant of BBC show The Traitors, revealed last week he had lost £40,000 in life savings to a phishing scam. "I like to think I'm savvy, but it can catch anyone," he said.
Here are three of themost popular tricks used by fraudsters and how to avoid them.
The scam: "Hi Mum, I've got a new phone" or messages about missed deliveries.
Fraudsters send out mass messages suggesting that the recipient needs to update their details. It is just a way of harvesting vital banking details in order to steal money.
In the case of the "Hi Mum" text, the message is usually followed by an urgent request to send money. Banks reported a surge in "Hi Dad" scams in the run-up to Father's Day.
Messages about missed deliveries usually include a link which, when clicked on, take the recipient to an official-looking website.
It is run by fraudsters and gathers banking information which is then used in so-called remote-purchase fraud - when criminals buy things from stolen card details. Some £423m was lost this way last year, according to UK Finance.
How to avoid it: Type, don't tap.
Experts urge people to avoid tapping on links. If a message claims to be from, for example, Royal Mail, then type out the genuine Royal Mail website.
Card details can be stolen in many different ways, such as through data breaches. But fraudsters often need a One-Time Passcode (OTP) to complete a theft. These should be treated as carefully as bank details and never given to someone who calls pretending to authorise a transaction.
It may seem obvious, but fraudsters are skilled in keeping you on the phone for ages to trick you into giving the number.
The scam: "I love you, can you send money so I can visit you." The victim joins a dating website, chats to someone with whom they builda relationship over time, until eventually there is a request for money.
On average victims of romance scams, which are at a record high, send 10 payments to the fraudster. Some never accept their loved one isn't real.
The fraudster uses fake pictures, often taken from the profiles of people innocently posting on social media.
After being groomed, victims are told of an accident, or the supposed partner needing help to pay for a ticket to meet up.
How to avoid it: It isn't very romantic, but when meeting someone on a dating website put their picture in a reverse image search.
Most search engines have that as an option, and it might show whether they are telling the truth about who they are.
Q&A
What are the most common types of scams reported in the UK?
The most common scams include phishing scams, fake romance scams, and messages about missed deliveries.
How much money did Sam Little lose to a phishing scam?
Sam Little lost £40,000 in life savings to a phishing scam.
How many cases of fraud were reported in the UK last year?
There were a record four million cases of fraud reported in the UK last year.
What should I do to protect myself from scams?
To protect yourself from scams, be cautious of unsolicited messages and verify the identity of the sender before responding.
