SCAMBOOK SCAMS AND FRAUDS TARGETING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. Tamworth Neighbourhood Watch Don Palmer Community Engagement Co-ordinator.

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1 May 2015 SCAMBOOK SCAMS AND FRAUDS TARGETING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES Tamworth Neighbourhood Watch Don Palmer Community Engagement Co-ordinator. May 2015 Page 1

2 A CONFIDENCE TRICK or SCAM is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their confidence - Wikipedia While conventional crime is falling, there is an increasing likelihood of becoming a victim of a scam. The offenders range from single individuals to international organised crime groups. Some are very obvious, including spelling mistakes and grammatical errors; others can be extremely convincing. The proceeds are huge. The victims can be anyone, whether elderly, vulnerable, someone caught off guard or short of money, or someone simply responding to a request for help. Keep one step ahead, and don t be taken in. For further advice and to report any such scams and frauds, contact Action Fraud at; or on 101. For regular alerts and updates from Neighbourhood Watch about scams such as these, and crimes in your area, register your details at; or via 101. May 2015 Page 2

3 1. CHINESE INVESTMENT SCAM You receive a letter, supposedly from someone working for an investment bank in China or Hong Kong, dealing with the estate of a deceased person with the same surname as you. He wants to use your bank account to pay in the funds (usually millions) and will split 50/50. He urges you to keep it confidential. He needs your bank details, and payments in advance. 2. LOTTERY WINNER SCAM You receive a letter or , suggesting you have won a large amount in a lottery. It often suggests your address has been chosen at random. There are often references to legitimate organisations, such as the BBC, Microsoft, FIFA, Coca Cola etc in an attempt to add authenticity. If you respond you will be asked for bank account details. 3. BANK/CREDIT CARD SCAM You receive a phone call, supposedly from the police, a bank or credit card provider. The caller will try to convince you that your card has been stolen or used fraudulently, and will often be very convincing, including quoting some of your personal details. The caller will attempt to get you to either reveal your pin number, or the security number on the reverse of the card, in order for the transaction to be stopped. In other cases, the caller asks you to phone your bank to confirm, but keeps the line connected so in fact you are still talking to the offender. In other cases your card has actually been stolen (you may not be aware), and the caller is the thief attempting to discover your pin number by posing as your bank security department. Do not give any such information to anyone calling you. See also scam 20. Published by Staffordshire Police 4. MICROSOFT COMPUTER SCAM You receive a telephone call, claiming to be from Microsoft or Windows, suggesting there is a problem with your computer. The caller often asks you to switch on your computer, and provide information which will allow them to access it remotely. You will be charged around 150, and damaging software may be installed on your computer. Microsoft will never contact you in this way. This is an extremely common scam. 5. UKASH VOUCHER SCAM You receive a telephone call, suggesting you are owed a refund from an organisation such as a local council or government agency. In some cases the caller suggests someone will call on you with a cheque. In order to claim, you will be asked to purchase a Ukash voucher (often for 100 or more), usually from a local convenience shop, and will then be asked to phone back and quote the number on this voucher. This will then allow the caller to immediately access the value of the voucher. 6. UKASH VOUCHER LOAN SCAM You receive a telephone call, offering you a loan. Victims have often been applying for a loan, so are likely to believe it is a genuine offer. The caller then asks you to purchase a Ukash voucher, as above, to cover the first instalment. 7. COMPUTER LOCKED SCAM Your computer shows a screen, usually with police logos on, suggesting your computer has been used to view pornography or illegal sites and has been locked. It demands payment of 100 to unlock. Do not pay, this is not true. Contact a computer repair company for advice. For further information on computer security, go to May 2015 Page 3

4 8. HOLIDAY ROBBERY SCAM You receive an from a friend or member of the family, suggesting they are on holiday abroad and have been robbed. The asks for transfer of money to help. The sender s address book will have been hijacked, and the same message sent to all contacts. Protect your address book by deleting any s from unknown senders without opening them, do not reply to phishing s asking you to update details, and install security software. 9. LONELY HEARTS SCAM This usually targets those looking for friendship or romance via the internet. Messages will be exchanged over a period of time, with the offender creating a plausible history. Eventually, the victim will be asked for financial help, perhaps for treatment of an illness, to pay for study or travel costs. The offender will usually live abroad. The identity will be entirely fictitious, but the victim will be 100% convinced. Payments may start as relatively small loans, but once they start will increase. Payments of thousands of pounds are not unusual. 10. UNEXPECTED PARCEL DELIVERY SCAM You receive an unexpected delivery of a parcel, often a mobile phone, correctly addressed to you and delivered by a legitimate courier company. A short time later someone calls at your door, claiming to be from the courier, and suggesting there has been a mistake and asking for the parcel. This will be the offender, who has used your details and address to order the item. You may then receive the bill. 11. STRANDED MOTORIST SCAM Motorists are flagged down by another motorist who has apparently broken down, usually in a lay-by or near a roundabout. If you stop, the stranded driver (usually Eastern European) claims to have run out of petrol, doesn t have any money, and offers to sell you gold jewellery for cash. The jewellery is, of course, worthless. We are aware of several people taking pity on these offenders and handing over cash. 12. ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS SCAM You are approached by (usually) a female in a supermarket car park, after returning to your car with your shopping. She asks for directions, and often shows you a map. While helping and distracted, a second offender removes your bank card from your car. The offenders will have been able to see your pin number being entered at the checkout; cash will be withdrawn from your account before you realise your card has been stolen. It has also been known for the offenders to follow the victim home, and approach them there. Please be aware of anyone paying close attention at checkouts, and wary if asked for directions. 13. CRIME PREVENTION BOOKLET SCAM Small businesses, farmers, churches and schools receive a telephone call, suggesting they have previously contributed to a publication such as a crime prevention magazine, or police diary, and asking for further payment. No such publications exist. The offenders will often claim you have entered into a contract, and demand payment. The calls usually come from the Liverpool area. 14. TARMAC GANG SCAM Tarmac gangs targeting owners of car parks, such as church halls, schools, village halls etc, suggesting they are from County Highways (or similar) and offering to resurface the car park with surplus tarmac. Work is very poor standard, overcharged, and of course nothing to do with the council or highways dept. May 2015 Page 4

5 15. MONEY MULE SCAM This targets students and the unemployed. Victims are offered employment, as payment processing agents, administration assistants or similar, with salaries of hundreds of pounds a week. It looks like a proper job offer, sometimes with a convincing contract. The real purpose is to channel cash from criminal activity, by paying it into the victim s bank account; they then transfer it into an overseas account for a small percentage. This is classic money laundering. Jobseekers are often contacted after uploading their CV onto the internet. 16. SKY PROTECT SCAM You receive a telephone call supposedly from Sky or Sky Protect, regarding insurance for Sky equipment. The caller may suggest your insurance is about to expire, or offering to reduce the monthly direct debit. However, the caller will then ask for your bank details if this was a genuine call, they would already have this. Sky Protect confirm this is a common scam do not give your personal details to anyone calling you, whoever they say they are. 17. UPDATE YOUR DETAILS SCAM You receive an supposedly from a bank, credit-card company or phone/broadband/energy provider, suggesting they have updated their security system, and you need to verify your details in order to continue to have access. Similar s supposedly from pay-pal, itunes and online businesses such as Amazon, clothing companies etc, suggest your account has been frozen, or that there has been fraudulent activity. The s often appear genuine, and may include logos etc. You may or may not have an account with the business concerned, but if you have you may well believe they are genuine. Such s are known as phishing, an attempt to steal your details. Do not click on any such links, or provide any information. Contact the bank or business concerned, via their official website. 18. HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS SCAM You receive an supposedly from HMRC, suggesting you are owed a tax refund. You are naturally delighted, and click on the link. Don t. Again, the looks very convincing. 19. FAILED PARCEL DELIVERY SCAM You receive an supposedly from a parcel delivery company, such as Federal Express, suggesting they have a parcel for you and asking you to click on a link. This would appear to be another phishing scam, or alternatively may upload damaging software when you click the link. A similar scam involved receiving a card through the letterbox, asking you to phone a premium rate number to arrange delivery. We understand this particular scam has now been stopped, but be aware, particularly if you are not expecting a delivery. 20. COURIER BANK CARD SCAM You receive a phone call allegedly from a shop or business, claiming that someone has attempted to use your credit card fraudulently, suggesting you call your bank to cancel the card. The fraudsters then stay on the line, meaning that when you think you are talking to your bank you are actually speaking to one of the scammers. They then helpfully suggest that, under a new scheme, you can cancel all your cards in one go, even for rival banks. They ask you to dial your pin numbers into the phone (this should be the point where you stop banks NEVER ask for your pin numbers). The fraudster then says your cancelled cards would be collected by courier, giving a code number for security. A short time later, the courier will arrive to collect the cards, which of course are then used. This is a sophisticated variation of other scams. May 2015 Page 5

6 21. JOB OFFER SCAM This targets those looking for employment. You may respond to an advertisement, or upload your cv. You are offered a job, which appears legitimate. The prospective employer takes all your personal details. You then start receiving letters saying you have taken out phone contracts, insurance etc. The scammer has used your details. In a variation of this, mobile phones are delivered to you, supposedly as part of the job offer, again using your details. The phone may then be collected by the scammer, posing as a courier, and you will be left to pay the bill. See scam 10 above. 22. VACATION SCAM You receive a phone call, offering an opportunity to buy a holiday / cottage / apartment / villa etc. A variation suggests you have won the property. The property, of course, doesn t exist. This fits in to the if it sounds too good to be true, it is category. As with other similar cold calls, this is an attempt to get your bank account details or to convince you into paying for something that appears to be an amazing opportunity. 23. BT ACCOUNT SCAM You receive a phone call, usually claiming to be from BT, suggesting you owe some money and that your phone line or internet connection will be disconnected unless you pay. The scammer (usually Asian) sometimes demonstrates that they can disconnect your line by asking you to attempt to make a call (you can t, because they are keeping the connection open!). Don t pay. We are also aware of phishing s, claiming to be from BT, claiming your account has been frozen. 24. BT NUISANCE CALLS SCAM You receive a phone call, claiming to be from BT, claiming they can block unwanted and nuisance calls. There is a monthly charge. These calls are not from BT, and it is not possible to block such calls in this way. Registering for the Telephone Preference Service is free. 25. TEXT MESSAGE SCAMS You receive a text message, suggesting you are owed a refund, and to text a reply in order to receive this. We are aware of such messages relating to supposed delayed flights, and no doubt there are many others. Such text messages are likely to increase, and should be treated in the same way as phishing s, deleted and not responded to. 26. DROPPED CASH DISTRACTION SCAM You are approached by a stranger, who suggests you have dropped a 10 note. This usually happens shortly after you have withdrawn cash at a cash machine, or used a card to pay for items at a supermarket. The stranger is usually insistent, asking you to check your purse or wallet. While distracted in this way, your bank card is stolen, and then used to withdraw cash. It is likely the offender will have been able to see you enter your pin number, and is similar to the map distraction scam 12 above AMAZON SCAM Along with numerous phishing scams supposedly from banks and HMRC etc (see scams 17 & 18), an supposedly from Amazon, confirming an order you have not made, contains an attachment which is likely to contain harmful software. The s look convincing; if you frequently order items from Amazon it would be easy to mistake this for a genuine communication. May 2015 Page 6

7 28. NOTTINGHAM KNOCKERS. This is one of the most common face-to-face scams. You get a knock at the door, from a male carrying a large holdall, claiming to be an ex-offender or just released from prison, trying to sell you household items. They often claim to be on a work programme or probation scheme no such schemes exist. They may flash an ID card, which is likely to be home-made. They invariably come from the Nottingham area. Such callers can be intimidating, particularly to elderly residents, and will charge inflated prices for items they sell. Residents may be tempted to purchase, either because they feel sorry for them, or simply to get rid of them - unfortunately this is likely to encourage them to return. We suggest you politely decline, and contact the police on COURT NOTICE SCAM. You receive an official-looking , supposedly from a solicitor or court, saying something like Notice to Appear - To view copy of the court notice click here. Please read it thoroughly. Note: if you do not attend the hearing the judge may hear the case in your absence. It is easy to understand how an individual or business could be concerned about such a message, and click on the link. This is likely to install damaging malware on your computer. 30. ORDER CONFIRMATION SCAM Similar to number 27, you receive an thanking you for an order which you have not made. The usually suggests the unspecified item will be dispatched shortly. There is often no mention of a company name. Payment is requested by clicking on a link. Don t. 31. VARIATION ON SCAM 20 POLICE CALL COURIER SCAM Very similar to number 20, you receive a phone call from a male purporting to be a police officer from a part of London where they tell you that your card has been cloned and they may have 2 males in custody. Please read number 20 and never give out any personal information over the phone or on line. 32. NUMBER SPOOFING Cold callers and scammers are increasingly believed to be using software to show a false telephone number on caller display telephones; this is known as number spoofing. You may use caller display to decide whether to answer the phone scammers realise that many people will not answer calls from Withheld, international or other unknown numbers, so they may use software to display a number with a local code, which you may be more likely to answer. In some cases, they are dosplaying the genuine number of an organisation such as a bank, which scammers may well point out in an attempt to convince you that the call is genuine. Increasingly, it seems, the number displayed should not be relied on. 33. VARIATION ON SCAM 20 POLICE CALL COURIER SCAM Very similar to number 20, you receive a phone call from a male purporting to be a police officer from a part of London where they tell you that your card has been cloned and they may have 2 males in custody. Please read number 20 and never give out any personal information over the phone or on line. Updated; May May 2015 Page 7

8 ARE YOU A MEMBER OF NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH? If you are a member of Neighbourhood Watch, you may well be very familiar with the contents of this booklet. However, if you are not a member, and would like to be kept informed about such incidents, as well as crimes and other incidents affecting your immediate neighbourhood, please register on our communication network, You will be joining thousands of other residents across Staffordshire. We can then provide you with regular updates, keeping you informed and aware so that you can take appropriate measures to help prevent you, or your neighbours, becoming a victim of a crime or scam. We encourage residents to keep in touch with their neighbours, and in particular to keep an eye on those who may be vulnerable. We can help you to make your home more secure, and can offer products such as SmartWater at a considerably reduced cost. Many insurance companies offer a discount on household policies to members. Membership is free, and you do not need to attend meetings. We encourage residents to be observant, and to report anything suspicious directly to the police, but curtain-twitching is not compulsory! KEEPING YOU INFORMED, AWARE AND ALERT NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH + BUSINESS WATCH + FARM WATCH + SHOP WATCH + SUPERARKET WATCH + SCHOOL WATCH + PUB WATCH + FORECOURT WATCH + HORSE WATCH + ALLOTMENT WATCH + RURAL WATCH + STUDENT WATCH May 2015 Page 8