In this blog, Cambridgeshire ACRE’s Kari Payne, our Village Agent working across South Cambridgeshire, discusses scams and fraud and talks about how she is helping residents protect themselves, one Community Hub at a time.

 

 

Sadly, most of us know someone who has been scammed or have been victims of fraud ourselves.

From courier scams and romance frauds to identity scams and fake investments, the internet is enabling fraudsters to target us from all over the world.

Over the last couple of months, we’ve been pleased to welcome the cyber fraud team from Cambridgeshire Police to some of our South Cambridgeshire Community Hubs for talks on staying safe online (and on the phone) and from rogue traders on our doorsteps.

Our hubs at Girton, Grantchester, Horningsea and Willingham learned more about the criminals running the scams, how people are being targeted across our area – and how to report fraud if it happens to you.

As well as hearing about common doorstep scams and overcharging and/or botched roofing repairs, solar panels and driveway work. We heard about:

• Phishing: fraudulent e-mails and websites meant to steal data
• Vishing: fraudulent phone calls aimed at getting you to reveal personal information
• Smishing: fraudulent text messages meant to trick you into revealing data

Suspect call or email?

Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations you might deal with and the police. They prey on vulnerable people and often promise you tax refunds, a free holiday, a chance to make big money, or scare you that you, your money or home is at urgently risk.

They could say they’re from your bank or energy company or are recommended by someone you know. They may try and groom you, pretending to be your friend or possible marriage partner. And very sadly, these people can leave their victims with lasting financial and emotional damage.

Advice from the cyber fraud team

Stay alert and be suspicious and remember your ABC and D …
A – Assume nothing
B – Believe no-one
C –Check everything yourself. Close the call so you can check out the information – don’t click on links, even if the email says it’s from a source you might know and trust.
D – Discuss with a friend or family member before taking action.

Top tips to prevent scams

• Make sure your phone or computer has the latest updates
• Back up your data
• Use 2-factor identification (perhaps a password and then a code sent to your mobile or email to verify a purchase / to get into an account)
• Consider a nuisance call blocker – most phone companies offer free versions for mobiles and landlines
• Only use traders who are personally recommended by friends or who have been vetted and registered on Trading Standards-approved Buy with Confidence website
• Use three random words and some special characters for a password. You can also use a song lyric or line from a poem.
• Use a credit card or PayPal for purchases as these offer most protection if something goes wrong.
• Trader at the door? Check they have a genuine pedlar’s certificate from the police (hawker’s ID is not the same)
• Someone claiming to be from your bank? Put down the phone, wait a few minutes for the line to clear or use another device to call 159 – the simple and safe way to phone your bank about fraud. This number is an easy route back to safety when you get an unexpected phone call about a financial matter. It cannot be spoofed or impersonated.

Information about you online

Even if you are careful about sharing personal details, information about you can end up online – perhaps through a data breach from a retailer or utility.

• Check how much personal data about you is on the internet, at https://haveibeenpwned.com/
• Check your privacy settings on your social media like Facebook
• Be wary about posting personal information online like your house number or pet names
• Use a credit check app and monitor fraud or changes to your credit score. Good, free basic ones include: ClearScore (using Equifax data) and the Experian app, both providing free, unlimited access to credit scores and reports

How to report scams and frauds

Contact Report Fraud – they will help you report to the police, learn about how to prevent it and get you the support you need. Call 0300123 2040 or visit https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/

Scam/spam texts: forward to 7726 (spells SPAM on your phone keys). You’ll get an automated response asking for the originating number

Scam/Spam calls: text 7726 with the word “CALL” followed by the caller’s number

Scam/spam emails: forward them to report@phishing.gov.uk. You’ll get an auto response telling you what happens with the information you sent.

Block the senders of spam and scam emails and texts and delete the messages on your device.

Read more

The Cambridgeshire Police website has lots of information about different scams. You can also download a copy of its free guide, The Little Book of Big Scams.