New and emerging scams

Resident

Good Afternoon I hope you are all having a good weekend, please see below new and emerging scams

AI-powered scams - Artificial intelligence is used to create realistic deepfake videos and cloned voices to impersonate trusted individuals and make scams more convincing.

Phishing and smishing - These remain prevalent, with new variations like fake “payment attempted” text messages or emails that try and steal banking details or one-time passcodes.

Quishing (QR code Phishing) - Scammers use malicious QR codes to direct victims to fake login or payment pages after they scan the code.

Impersonation scams - Scammers impersonate government agencies ( like the Financial Conduct Authority or through fake emergency alerts), banks or well known companies to request personal information or money.

Job Offer scams - Fake job listings appear on legitimate sites, luring victims with attractive offers to steal personal information or demand payment for fake equipment or training.

Fake parcel delivery scams - You may receive a text or email claiming a parcel delivery failed and asking for payment or personal details to arrange delivery.

Fake charities and sales - Scammers set up fake charities or “closing down” sales, often on social media, to solicit money or sell non-existent goods.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Be suspicious of any unsolicited messages, emails or calls asking for personal information or money.

Never click on links or call numbers in suspicious messages.  Instead, go directly to the official website or use a known trusted contact number.

Do not provide one-time passcodes or two-factor authentication codes to anyone who contacts you.

Research job offers and companies thoroughly before providing any personal or financial information.  Look for official websites and check for inconsistencies