Common types of fraud and scams

A scammer will call or message you, claiming to be from a well-known organisation like a utility company. They will then demand urgent payment for a fake problem, such as an unpaid bill or failed card payment.

They'll create a sense of urgency, and may suggest that you pay using gift cards, to solve the fake problem faster. They may threaten that you'll lose your service if you don't pay quickly. The scammer will guide you through the payment processes while gathering your personal information to allow them to steal your identity.

• Be highly suspicious of payment requests using gift cards or cryptocurrencies
• Never share your personal information, account or banking details with unexpected callers
• Be very suspicious of people contacting you unexpectedly by phone, email, SMS, or social media, about unexpected refunds, demands of unpaid bills, warnings of suspicious account activity or service issues
• If you’re being contacted out of the blue, end the conversation and call the business directly using the number from the official website or from the company's latest bill

Typically, these scams:

• Ask you to send money via bank transfer rather than using a card or cheque
• Offer a too-good-to-be-true deal or discount
• Have 'limited availability', or are a 'special offer' to encourage you to act quickly
• Persuade you to send money before receiving a service
• Are advertised on social media or other online marketplaces, or in some cases through legitimate-looking websites that have actually been set up by fraudsters
• Claim to offer bargains when you search for items such as footwear and electronic gadgets, with links that take you to unknown sites

• Use safe sites when shopping online
• Use safe ways to pay, such as your debit or credit card
• Check the returns and cancellations policy
• Look up the retailers on Google to make sure they’re legitimate. High-traffic, well-reviewed sites will appear near the top of the search results
• Research the retailer online to make sure they’re legitimate
• Stop and think - would you be willing to send cash in the post for an item you've ordered?
• Research and check the validity of the item before paying - ask to see it if possible
• Approach an independent professional to authenticate the goods or services you're purchasing
• Shop only at genuine and secure websites that have URLs starting with ‘https’
• Look for a green padlock icon on the left of the website's URL, especially on the payment page. If you do pay, never transfer funds directly because you won’t get that money back. Pay with a credit card or PayPal instead to protect yourself

Fraudsters may:

• Contact you by phone or on social media platforms
• Advertise fake investments that don’t really exist or promise falsely high returns
• Convince you to sign up with a cryptocurrency provider with your identity documents to open a trading account or online wallet
• Set up fake but realistic-looking websites and portfolios

• Check how it works - it may differ from a traditional investment
• Stay in control - never let anyone set up a cryptocurrency wallet, upload ID documents or manage investments for you
• Don't share access - fraudsters may ask you to download software so they can access your devices and move money without your knowledge
• Spot familiar tricks - you may be asked to move money and mislead your bank about the reason for making the payment
• Don't fall for fake endorsements - fraudsters may impersonate famous personalities on social media or messaging groups, to make their offer look legitimate
• Don't be pressured - high-value cases even give a return in the short term, to convince you to invest more, leaving you vulnerable to greater losses

A stranger will strike up a conversation with some form of mutual interest or say you may have similar hobbies. They then suggest chatting privately outside dating websites or apps and using social media/email instead. Often, what they tell you in private does not match their public profile.

They work to form an emotional bond to gain your trust (sometimes over several months). They’ll then tell you an elaborate story, perhaps relating to travel or some kind of emergency. You’ll then be asked to provide money, gifts, or personal details such as bank account or credit card details.

• Be suspicious of strangers who contact you unexpectedly
• Never share your personal information or bank details with anyone
• Never send money or gifts to someone you’ve only met online
• Don’t agree to send money on their behalf or open a bank account for them
• Stop and think carefully before getting emotionally involved with a stranger online, no matter how much of a connection you think you have
• Watch out for poor spelling and grammar – it’s normally a sign of a scam

A scammer calls, claiming to be from your internet provider. They might say you have connection or security problems or an overdue bill. They'll ask to access your device (laptop, phone, tablet) remotely and for you to log on to your internet banking.

They'll try to convince you to do things like make an immediate payment through your internet banking. Scammers can record your account numbers and passwords as you enter them, giving them access to your banking details to move money out of your account.

• Keep your devices updated with the latest antivirus software and a good firewall
• Never share your personal information, PIN, one-time passcodes (OTP), account or banking details over the phone
• Say no to anyone who asks for remote access to your device, no matter who they claim to be and what excuse they use - legitimate companies won’t do this
• Be very suspicious of people contacting you unexpectedly by phone, email, SMS, or social media - always call the company on their publicly listed number to check that the request is genuine

You will receive an email, telling you that the bank details for your payment have changed, and giving the new details to send your payments to. This could be a house deposit to your solicitor, or a payment to a contractor for home improvements, for example.

If you're contacted about a change of payment details, always:

• Call the company on a number you're sure is genuine to confirm
• Check for poor spelling and grammar within the email – this usually signals a scam
• Check the sender's email address is correct

An email or SMS might arrive, offering a job and promising easy money for handling payments. The job involves receiving a payment into your personal bank account, then wiring it overseas, minus a small commission for yourself.

Eventually, this suspicious activity will trigger the bank’s security measures. As the account holder, you’ll be considered responsible and face potential legal consequences for money laundering and fraud, despite not knowing you were part of a scam.

• Be wary of job offers that involve handling money for others
• Don't allow your bank account to be used to send and receive money for other people
• Never share your bank account details with anyone you don't know and trust
• Always use reputable job sites and stick to registered businesses
• Report any suspicious activity to authorities immediately

A criminal steals your personal details through digital (stalking your social media) or physical means (such as mail theft). Using the compromised details, they successfully convince your bank that they are you, and then change your contact details such as your email or mobile number to ones they control. This gives them access to your accounts.

• Don't share too many personal details on social media
• Follow up with the bank if you don't receive letters, emails or other communications you were expecting from them
• Be very suspicious when unknown businesses or services call you and ask for personal details