How recovery scammers trick vulnerable victims

Recovery scammers often target people who have recently lost money to fraudsters, taking advantage of them at a time of vulnerability. From impersonating regulators to stalking social media platforms to find potential victims, recovery scammers use various tactics.

Here are some examples of how recovery scams work to help you avoid falling prey.

Find out more

Source: Which? (11 Sep 2023)

Monzo customers can now check if they're on the phone to a scammer

Bank scams can be devastating for victims, both financially and emotionally. One common type is when scammers pretend to be your bank and claim your account has a security issue.

Monzo has launched a new in-app tool enabling customers to tell if they're speaking to a fraudster. The digital bank's 'call status' tool will allow users to check if a call from the bank is genuine – while they're on the line.

Learn more about how the tool works and get advice on what to do if you've been scammed.

Better bank security

Source: Which? (9 Sep 2023)

Young adults are being targeted by impersonation scams

According to new figures from UK Finance, nearly half of young adults have been targeted by impersonation scams. In 2022 alone, victims lost £178 million to these types of scams.

Impersonation scams can have serious consequences, and people need to be aware of them and take steps to protect themselves. Discover how impersonation scams work and get our expert advice on staying safe.

Impersonation scams

Source: Which? (10 Sep 2023)

Beware Quishing and QR Code Jacking: The Newest Scam

 Here is a summary of the article "QR code jacking":

• QR codes are being used by criminals to steal people's personal details, such as bank account numbers.
• Fraudsters place QR codes in public places, such as parking meters and restaurant menus. When someone scans the code, they are directed to a fake website that looks like the real website. The fake website asks for the victim's personal details, which are then stolen by the fraudsters.
• To protect yourself from QR code jacking, avoid scanning QR codes in public places. If you do scan a QR code, make sure to check the website URL to make sure it is genuine.
• Another way that criminals use QR codes to steal personal details is through phishing emails. Phishing emails are emails that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or government agency. The email may contain a QR code that, when scanned, takes the victim to a fake website that looks like the real website. The fake website asks for the victim's personal details, which are then stolen by the fraudsters.
• To protect yourself from phishing emails, never click on links or scan QR codes in emails. If you are concerned about an email, contact the organisation that it claims to be from directly.

Here are some additional tips to help you stay safe from QR code jacking:

• Only scan QR codes from trusted sources.
• Be suspicious of QR codes that are sent to you unsolicited.
• Never provide your personal details through a QR code.
• If you think you have been the victim of QR code jacking, contact your bank or credit card company immediately.

Some useful sources for further information:

• https://restless.co.uk/money/everyday-finance/latest-scams-to-watch-out-for/
• https://bexleywatch.blogspot.com/search/label/QR

Walk and Talk Belvedere Event Bexley

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Date: Thursday 21st September 2023

Time: 6pm

Venue: Outside Belvedere Station, Station Road, Belvedere, DA17 6JJ

Safety Online Tips for Students

A student’s life is a busy one. So busy that when they’re online – which is almost certainly quite a lot of the time – they could be too busy to think about whether what they’re doing is safe and secure.

Add to this the fact that young people tend to take greater risks than their parents, and it could be that they would benefit from some simple advice about protecting themselves from the multitude of online harms they might encounter every day.

Help your child live a trouble-free student life online by sharing these top tips.

Steering clear of fraud

Fraudulent texts, emails, DMs and calls claiming to be from the bank, student loan provider, HMRC and other trusted organisations are commonplace. Overseas students can be targeted by visa fraudsters too. Not thinking before they click could cost your child their money or identity, or both.

Banking

Your child should keep their banking and other financial details private, and make money transfers safely via their bank’s app. They should also get to know their Student Money Adviser.

Buying

Suggest your child checks if a website they’re buying from is likely to be legit or fraudulent, at www.getsafeonline.org/checkawebsite

Making payments

Payment by bank transfer to an unknown person or company for accommodation deposits, fees or other costs or purchases should be avoided. Using a card is considerably safer.

Accommodation

Help your child check out new accommodation in person, and make sure the advertiser is authentic before paying any money. Deposits and other up-front payments should be paid by credit card for extra protection.

Oversharing

What goes online stays online. Financial and other confidential details should be kept private, as should passwords and other login details. Intimate images shared innocently can fall into the wrong hands. Location settings on phones and apps should be checked to help protect physical safety. Freebies and prize draws asking for confidential data should be avoided.

Online responsibility

There’s no place online for any kind of abuse, hate speech, forcing views on others or criminal activity. Remember: 70% of employers check out candidates’ social media profiles before interviewing and hiring.

Using mobile devices and Wi-Fi

Phones, tablets and laptops should be protected at all times. If what your child is doing is confidential or financial, they should avoid using Wi-Fi hotspots as there’s no guarantee they’re secure. Warn your child about location services on apps too.

Gambling

For some students, betting can become a bad habit. Remind your child how much money and time they could be wasting and the positive things they could do with it. Point out the fine line between gaming and gambling.

Dating

Top tips are to use a reputable app or site and keep conversations on its messaging platform. Not everyone is who they claim to be … some even use online dating to commit fraud or threaten their date’s physical safety. Tell them not to be afraid to block or say no.

If it feels wrong, don’t do it!

Your child should never be put under pressure to do something they feel uncomfortable with, or put others under pressure. Like sharing intimate pics, harmful pranking, extreme content, social media hacking or any kind of extremism.

Jobs that are too good to be true

Students are favourite targets for illegal get rich quick schemes, like jobs with pay that’s too good to be true or others using their bank accounts to ‘process payments’. Money muling or laundering could result a criminal record, even if it’s done innocently.

Making cyberchoices

Clever coders and gamers are sometimes recruited by cybercriminals wanting their skills for malware coding or hacking. Talk to your child about the consequences and discuss alternatives like a lucrative career in cybersecurity.

Source: https://www.getsafeonline.org/students/

Bexley Magazine - Autumn 2023

Local information, community news and what's on in the London Borough of Bexley. 

https://issuu.com/bexleylondonborough/docs/bexmagautumn2023

• p10 - Fair Use Changes for Recycling Centres
• p11 - Bexley Community Survey 2023 (until friday 27 October 2023) or online
• p20 - Keeping the Community Safe (from BBNWA)