Consumer scam alerts - Norfolk County Council   This website gives information on numerous scams that are currently circulating and on rogue traders.   

Dozens arrested and thousands contacted after scammer site taken offline (msn.com)

This was mentioned on Sky News so some of you may already know on this really good news.

Lloyds Bank is warning holidaymakers to watch out after it saw a 7% spike in travel scams in the past year.  Victims lose an average of £765 to these scams, with Lloyds saying nearly half of those affecting its customers started on Facebook.

Residents are being warned to be wary of cold callers or leaflets offering to do garden clearances, tree cutting and work to roofs and gutters.  Trading Standards is encouraging caution if anyone knocks and offers to start work immediately, particularly if they are pushy or claim that urgent repairs are required. Each year, springtime and the start of the growing season results in an increase in offers to assist with gardening. Here are some top tips from Trading Standards: 

• If it is out of the blue, it’s not for you! Don’t agree to work from an unsolicited, cold call. 

• Be aware of ‘alarm bell’ tactics, claims such as – ‘I was working in the area and saw that your garden/roof needed urgent attention’; ‘we are working at one of your neighbours’ and we have some material left over’; ‘I can take you to the bank/cashpoint to get the money’. 

• Take five to stop fraud. Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe. Trust your instincts.

 • If you want some work undertaken, get a number of detailed quotes in writing, including full contact details and a detailed breakdown of exactly what work will be done.

 • Be cautious about any requests for large deposits. For larger work, agree when staged payments will be paid and what work should be completed before any money is handed over. And stick to what is agreed.

 • Check with friends and family for trusted recommendations and consider a Trading Standards’ approved trader, from the Buy with Confidence scheme. 

• Consider learning more about how scams work and how you can protect yourself and others, by becoming a Friend Against Scam. For more advice on consumer rights, or to report to Trading Standards, contact the Citizens Advice national consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 or by visiting its website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Victims of rogue locksmiths can experience rip-off prices, poor workmanship and intimidation. Locksmiths aren’t regulated, which means that technically, anyone can call themselves a locksmith, do a shoddy job, charge you a fortune and avoid being held to account.

In 2022, the Master Locksmiths Association received more than 300 reports about fraudulent locksmiths. Victims had been charged anything from £500 to more than £3,000 for emergency call-outs, which is significantly more than a reputable locksmith would charge. 

 

WhatsApp verification code scam (Information from Which)

First, you’ll receive an unexpected but genuine text message from WhatsApp containing a verification code. This is usually triggered when logging into the app for the first time, when you’ve been logged out, or you’re trying to log into WhatsApp from a new device.

But in the case of this scam, fraudsters have entered your number into WhatsApp themselves to try to get access to your account, triggering the verification code text.

Next, one of your WhatsApp contacts will message you via the app, usually with a story to try to persuade you to give them the verification code you’ve just received. They might say they’ve accidentally entered your number by mistake, for example.

Because the message seems to be from a relative or friend, a lot of people have been tricked into passing on the verification code, which then allows fraudsters to take over their accounts.

Once they’ve taken over, scammers might use your account in a few different ways.

We’ve heard that scammers have identified their victims’ closest contacts from their message history and have asked them for money or sensitive information.

They could also find out personal details about you and your contacts from your messages. This information could be used to access other important accounts, target you with more scams, or even blackmail you.

Scammers are likely to carry out the same trick with verification codes with the new set of contacts they’ve unlocked, gaining access to more and more accounts. 

As always, if you think you may have given sensitive details, such as payment information, to fraudsters, let your bank know what’s happened immediately.

WhatsApp users who have lost access to their accounts can contact support@whatsapp.com.

If you have been a victim of fraud or cyber crime, report it to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Angela Money BEM

Area Representative - West Berkshire Neighbourhood Watch