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Most of us assume we would never fall for a common scam, but with their ever-increasing sophistication, it’s getting more difficult to spot them.
Scammers are taking advantage of our growing reliance on the internet and technology, often using careful manipulation to coerce people into handing over their personal details, bank details or even transferring money.
Older people can be less wary of potential scammers, particularly if they have dementia. This makes them a frequent target, but you can help yourself or a loved one to be on guard.
How to spot a scam
Is your message really from the bank?
Scammers usually contact people by telephone, text, email or letter if they are pretending to be a company or official body, like a bank, HMRC or even the police.
Often in these messages or conversations, the fraudster will claim you owe money and must pay or face prosecution. Some are dreadful attempts but some can be very convincing.
Unfortunately, some scams have evolved enough to make you think you are giving details or clicking on a link to protect you from fraud, when in reality you are diving right into it. For example, there are text messages being received at the moment that claim to be from banks such as HSBC and Lloyds. These say that you have added a new payee to your personal account, with a link to click if this was not you.
Signs that your official letter, call are message could include:
- Poor English
- A lack of information about you. Official letters will reference things like your National Insurance number, your bank account number etc. Scammers will ask for these, supposedly as proof of your identification
- Amateurish contact details. If the text message is from a mobile phone number, or the letter you’ve received tells you to email something like HMRCtax@gmail.com, it’s fake. Some, however, can use very sophisticated fake contact details or web addresses
- A link you are required to click. Real companies usually send you a code to use if you are verifying an account by text, or an email link immediately after you set up the account. Links from scammers can lead you to dangerous sites or infect your device, so never click them.
Is your online love interest a fake?
Romance fraud is when people set up fake profiles on social media or dating websites, pretending to be someone they’re not in order to seduce people into giving them money. The fraudster will often use pictures stolen from others’ social media and invent a fake name and life for themselves. They prey on people who are lonely and use emotional manipulation to swindle them out of their savings. Some even use their real photos and name but are only out for cash.
Signs that the person wooing you online is fake could be:
- Their social media account (or accounts) is mostly empty, or their account was made recently with several very generic pictures and posts added since
- They have a job that sounds pretend. The made-up job is usually a very good one that also means they travel a lot. A common one is for people to pose as American men in the forces
- They regularly try to engage your sympathy
- They have excuses not to meet you in person
- They won’t video call with you. It’s not that difficult for scammers to talk to you on the phone or get somebody else to, but if they’re genuine they should be able to video call you
- They’re quite intensely romantic. Real people talk about all sorts of things, usually in a chatty or jovial tone. Scammers are often doing a job so may try to keep the subject on complimenting you or trying to show you that they are the perfect love match, in a solemn tone with little to no humour. They will frequently try to move your relationship forward online very quickly, without dating you in person
- They discuss ideas for your future together that involve money they don’t have or an exciting investment opportunity that would enable you to be together
Tinder now has a verification feature whereby the user proves the photos on their profile are really them. Even if a profile is verified, it doesn’t necessarily prove that the person isn’t a scammer. You still need to keep an eye on what they say, if they avoid meeting in person and if they have a sob story that involves you giving them money. If you do meet someone for a date on Tinder, be sure to keep your handbag or wallet with you at all times, just to be extra cautious that they aren’t taking pictures of your bank or credit cards.
If a loved one is speaking to someone online, or you think they might be and are hiding it from you, you should make sure that the person is genuine and remind your loved one to never give them money or bank details, no matter how real it seems. It may be necessary to block their phone number or social media profiles.
Other common scams
Tech support scams
In these, the scammer will create a message to pop up on your computer screen claiming that your computer has been infected by malware or a virus. It will give a number to phone. Once you phone the number, the person on the other end of the line will encourage you to give them access to your computer or pay them to fix the alleged problem.
Be wary of clicking on adverts. Sometimes these themselves are scams that will infect your computer with a virus.
Investment and pensions scams
If you receive a message out of the blue offering advice on your pension or an exciting new investment, it’s best to steer clear. They will promise fantastic dividends for your investment that never materialise, or worse, convince you to transfer your savings to an account that you’ll never see again.
Fake auctions
Sometimes on Ebay or similar sites, scammers post a picture of an item that once you buy, you’ll never receive. In some cases people receive something but it’s not what they thought they were buying. For example, they might think they were buying a desk and receive a doll-size desk in the post, or pay for a smartphone and only receive a smartphone box.
Auctions site scams are very common. Always read the small print and check that the seller is reliable before handing your money over.
Fake traffic wardens
These scammers stroll about dressed as traffic wardens and hand out fake parking tickets. They will then say if you pay now the fine will be smaller, and ask for your card. They pretend that your card is stuck in the machine and they record your pin number.
If you are unsure, it’s best to check with your local council if the parking ticket you have received is real.
‘You’ve won a prize’ scams
These common scams can come by post, telephone, email or even a pop-up. It claims you’ve won a prize but they’ll need your details or a payment so you can claim it.
Keep up to date with current scams
Age UK keeps an excellent list of current scams going on. Reading this regularly will help you stay on your guard.
What to do if you think you’ve got a scam message
If a message you’ve received is clearly a scam, you can just ignore or delete it. You could be extra vigilant and report the scam to the business they are impersonating, or to Action Fraud.
Businesses that are regularly impersonated, such as banks, usually have specific email addresses or phone numbers for reporting fraud or scam messages, that you can find on their websites. Reporting a scam could help stop other people from falling victim.
You can post scam letters to FREEPOST SCAM MAIL, which the Royal Mail will then deal with.
If you are suspicious, but not sure, it’s best to contact the company the message is purportedly from directly. Find their contact details independently, such as through their website, rather than calling any numbers or following any links on the message you’ve received.
If you receive a scam text, it’s best not to reply as it then shows the scammers that your number is active and you may receive more texts in future. If you have replied, even just to swear at them, block their number.
What to do if you’ve given your details to a scammer
Some scams, even common scams, are so convincing that many people, of all ages, give away details without a second thought. If you have, you can take action immediately to protect yourself:
- If you’ve handed over bank details, you’ll need to contact your bank immediately. They can stop your card straight away.
- Change your passwords; some also let you add extra protection such as a secret question.
- Update your anti-virus software.
- If you’ve transferred money to the scammer in the last 24 hours, you can call the police on 101 (not 999).
- Report the scammer to the police by dialling 101.
Protecting someone with dementia from common scams
If you have a loved one with dementia who struggles to spot common scams, regularly remind them of what to look out for. Keep it simple and maybe even place written reminders by their phone or computer. These could be:
- NEVER tell anyone your bank details
- NEVER tell anyone your passwords
- NEVER give anyone your bank or credit card, even if they are dressed as a traffic warden
- NEVER let anyone into the house who you don’t know, even if they say you do but have forgotten
- If someone knocks on the door wanting to sell something or fix something for you, say ‘no thank you’ and shut the door. You don’t need to open the front door if you don’t feel safe.
- If you are sent a link, DO NOT click on it, ask me to look at it
- If you are unsure, call me
Further steps you could take to protect them include:
- Sign them up to the Telephone Preference Service. This will remove their phone number from public lists and reduce calls. It won’t remove their number from the phone book, but you can arrange for them to be ex-directory separately by speaking to their phone provider
- Buy them a phone with a ‘block caller’ button, such as this one which can block up to 1000 numbers
- Only with their permission, set up an automatic forwarding from their email address to yours, so that you can quickly see all emails they receive
- Obtain a Property and Finance Lasting Power of Attorney or a Deputyship to give you control over their finances if they lose the mental capacity to make informed decisions about their money
Helplines
Report fraud or cyber crime 24/7 by calling 0300 123 2040.
You can also register with Action Fraud as a precautionary measure, so that if you do get scammed you have more advanced ways to report it quickly, including if someone has gained access to your computer and you can see them using it.
For free, confidential support call 08 08 16 89 111 or send an email here.
Citizen’s Advice Consumer Service
Telephone: 0808 223 1133
Think Jessica is a charity that raises awareness of the dangers of scams and protects vulnerable people from them.
They have a booklet that teaches you how to avoid common scams available to buy for £7.99 here. These can also be bought in bulk.
You can contact Think Jessica here or email advice@thinkjessica.com.
