Drop-in events offer advice on steering clear of fraud this Christmas

Economic crime experts from Cumbria Police will be providing top tips on avoiding fraud in a series of drop-in events across the county during the run-up to Christmas.

The events are being held at the following venues:

Fraud and economic crimes are a concern for police forces across the UK. 

Examples include scam texts, fraudsters cold-calling by phone to prey on vulnerable people, efforts to defraud people online and bogus tradespeople targeting homes door-to-door.

DC Keyes added: “We visit places such as banks and community groups all-year-round to offer advice to customers or those attending.

“These events are an extension of this at a point when we know people are busier than usual – and perhaps more likely to be less focussed on security.

“So we like to be out-and-about in the community for anyone who wants face-to-face advice.”

 Tips on avoiding fraud in the run-up to Christmas

 Don’t rush to respond to a text message or email address. Fraudsters deliberately rush us and want us to click on links and share personal information.

 Are they really who they say they are? Just because someone says they are from your bank, the police or other organisations, it doesn’t mean they are.

 Challenge them. Should you receive a call you have doubts about, take their details, hang up and call them back on a trusted number for that organisation. Don’t trust the number showing on your phone as this can be manipulated. Wait five minutes as they can stay on the line. Legitimate agencies will not have a problem with this.

 Shopping Online? Watch out for copycat websites where retailers' branding is used to appear legitimate. Purchase scams are where you buy an item online and are either sent nothing in return or an item that doesn’t fit the description. These are often pushed via ads on social media.

 Expecting a parcel delivery?  Beware scam texts impersonating delivery organisations or companies that tell you messages such as: 'Your parcel has been temporarily held due to an unclear or invalid delivery address'. 

 Celebrity/company endorsements – Beware clicking on endorsement sites spread through social media ads, fake news articles and mass emails. Fake endorsements are often used to promote scam cryptocurrency or investment opportunities. Be sceptical of too-good-to-be-true offers and watch out for signs of manipulation and use of pressure tactics. Verify the source by checking whether the celebrity or company has posted the endorsement on their own verified social media accounts.

 Make it harder for fraudsters to get into accounts. Passwords go a long way to keeping you safe online. Go for three random words or a memorable phrase using a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. It is important your email account is very different to any other password and should be changed periodically. Avoid using your name, phone number, birthday, names of family members or pets.

 Add an extra layer of security to your devices and transactions online. Two step verification verifies your identity beyond your password. The second step is something only you should have access to such as a code from an authenticator app or a biometric scan like a fingerprint.