Watch out for scams

We’ve heard lots of reports of an increasing number of scammers stooping to new lows during this time of crisis by preying on people’s fears, confusion or vulnerability.

This article from the Guardian suggests that by 4^th April £1.6m had already been scammed – and that’s just based on what’s been reported.

So, what can you do at this time to protect yourself from the scammers?

Well, the advice now is really no different to what it’s always been – but it’s always worth having a recap of that useful information.

Don’t trust that caller

The first type of scam that appears to be on the rise at this time is via the unsolicited phone call.

It’s pretty basic, and most recipients might usually hang up and ignore it, but during times of heightened emotion or fear it can be easier to let your guard down.

The average call might consist of an individual (often a recorded message) claiming to be calling from your ‘internet’ or ‘phone’ provider. The threat will be simple – your service will be disconnected in a given number of days if you don’t do anything.

Our advice?

Hang up… and if you really are concerned that you’re about to be switched off, give us a call on 01706 902001 so we can put your mind at ease. But don’t follow any of the instructions given to you in the scam call.

It’s not only your ‘service provider’ who might call though. Criminals claiming to be calling from the police, HMRC or even your bank will also be trying it on at this time. The advice is simple though. If they can’t conclusively prove they are who they say they are, ignore them – and never ever provide them with any personal or financial information (including passwords).

Again, if in doubt, hang up and report the call.

The final point to make here is about text messages – any and all of these scams can and will take place via text too, so treat those with equal suspicion.

Here’s some really useful information from the government, rounding up many of these types of scam. We recommend that you give it a read.

Watch out for phishing

We’ve talked about phishing many times, but we’ll recap some of the important information for avoidance of doubt.

• Always check the sending address – to make sure the email’s from who it says it is
• Check the content – from spelling and punctuation to the way it ‘feels’
• Check for suspicious looking attachments or links – don’t click unless you’re absolutely certain

For much more on spotting and dealing with phishing emails, you can check out our article from last October here.

Need any shopping?

Of particular relevance to the elderly, we’ve even read reports of individuals offering to do shopping for vulnerable people stuck at home during the coronavirus crisis.

To those people we’d say that unless you know and trust that individual, be very wary about handing over money in advance.

If you’re of a certain age yourself, or you have elderly relatives, Age UK have put together this page highlighting some of the shopping support that they can provide.

At a time like this, it can be difficult to imagine that criminals would have the audacity to prey on our vulnerabilities, but unfortunately they do. That’s why we urge everyone to remain vigilant at this time, approach every suspicious looking transaction with the greatest possible caution and, above all, stay safe.