Have you been scammed? Check out the tricks fraudsters are using to stay safe Fraudsters know that impersonating Government or health officials is an easy way to lure people in, so emails or texts purporting to be from the likes of the World Health Organisation have also increased.Some emails claim to have a list of people in the area who have Covid-19 which can be accessed in exchange for payment – often in Bitcoin or other crypto-currencies.Typically, victims must click on a link to make their payment.Other scams are based around a new coronavirus tracking app, even though it has yet to be fully rolled out.Texts are sent to trick people into believing they have come into contact with someone infected with the virus and they are asked to click through to a website to share personal details.How to protect yourself from fraud Be wary of emails expressing urgency.Scammers use fear as a tactic to make you act fast.Never give personal details to someone you do not know.
Avoid clicking on links or downloading files in an email from an unknown sender.If you get an unexpected call from a body such as Revenue & Customs, hang up and call back on the official number.Never agree to up-front payments, particularly if they are international or in an electronic currency such as Bitcoin.If someone tries to sell you a service at your door, do not let them inside your home.Beware anyone offering free advice, a free pension review or early access to your pension.Remember you cannot access your pension before age 55 unless you have serious health issues.Make sure anti-virus software is up to date on all devices and spam filters are set to high.Watch out for investment opportunities that appear too good to be true – because they usually are.
If you think you have been the victim of fraud or cybercrime, report it to actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.Scammers have also taken advantage of lockdown loneliness by targeting online dating sites through a tactic known as ‘catfishing’.
Typically a scammer sets up a profile on an online dating website, begins a conversation with someone to build trust, and convinces them to hand over money to help them through a difficult situation.Jake Moore, of cybersecurity company ESET, says: ‘It might be a small request at first, but typically, once they know you’re willing to give them cash, the frequency and amount will rise.’ Fake online donation pages have also grown in number – some claiming to be about finding a cure for coronavirus.Other scammers have had the gall to turn up on doorsteps claiming to be from charities such as the Red Cross and offering to do shopping for those unable to leave their home – but the shopping never materialises.Online shopping has not escaped either.Many purchases of hand sanitiser, coronavirus tests, masks and other personal protective equipment have never been delivered, and items that have arrived are often unusable.Consumers are also being urged to watch out for pension scams that encourage people to access their pensions early and transfer money to sham investments.
Tom Selby, of wealth manager AJ Bell, warns that early access to a pension will result in ‘a 55 per cent unauthorised payment charge from HMRC in the first instance’.
‘You’ll then be subject to sky-high fees by the fraudster as well, meaning you only get a fraction of your pension back and your retirement prospects are left in tatters,’ he adds.Savers are advised not to respond if they are contacted about their pension by someone unknown.TOP DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS.
