During the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, scammers have capitalised on the fear and opportunity created by the lockdown to fraudulently obtain personal data and finances.
The trade body for the British banking sector, UK Finance, has now published a detailed list of the most common scams to help people identify them.
The top scams to be wary of include:
- Fake government emails– Emails that pertain to be from government departments offering grants of up to £7,500. These often contain links that steal personal and financial information.
- Financial relief emails– These often offer “Covid-19 relief funds”, which encourage people to hand over sensitive personal information.
- Council tax reduction– These emails, offering support with council tax payments, contain links that lead to a fake government website that harvests personal and financial information.
- Track and trace– Fraudsters are sending communications which suggest that a victim has been in contact with someone that has COVID-19. These will often include links to a fake website that contains viruses or attempts to steal information.
- PPE scams– These sites and emails often offer ‘bargain’ price PPE, such as hand sanitizer or face masks. However, once payment is made no goods are sent and the victim is often unable to contact the seller.
- Fake emails and texts claiming to be from TV Licensing– Many victims of this scam are told they are eligible for a six month TV licence for free because of the pandemic. They are then told there is an issue with their direct debit and they are asked to provide important financial information, such as their bank details.
- Social media scams– Scammers are using social media to manipulate victims into handing over money. Often criminals will use identities of real people to ask for ‘support and financial help’.
- Fake investment opportunities– Often advertised on social media sites, they encourage victims to “take advantage of the financial downturn”. This is particularly prevalent for cryptocurrency platforms, where less sophisticated investors are easily caught out.
Spotting scam calls
Being contacted unexpectedly is one sign that the call may not be legitimate. If you’re unsure if the call is genuine, then hang up and contact the number found on an official website to ensure that you know you’re speaking to the genuine authority, rather than a fraudster.
If the caller begins to pressurise you or becomes threatening, this is a sign that the call may not be genuine, as the fraudster attempts to force you into decisions under pressure.
If you’re asked to share personal details and you can’t verify the callers’ identity, end the call. You can always phone any company back to ensure that any call is legitimate.
Fraudulent online activity
You should never click on any links or attachments in a suspicious email. Fraudsters can spoof email addresses to make the display name appear legitimate, but if you are unsure you can contact the genuine company or organisation and delete the email.
Individuals are also being advised to be vigilant when shopping online, making sure to research any company or person you’re purchasing from if you’re unfamiliar with them. If you decide to purchase anything, you should use a credit card if possible, as most major providers insure online purchases.
To ensure you’re protected, you should install the latest software and app updates to protect your digital devices.