Don't Become Complacent About Scammers!
warns Peter Clarke of PC PAL
We have all read the horror stories about trusting people being swindled by scammers and it is such a common threat that there have even been TV shows warning us of the dangers. This month I thought I'd update you on some of the scammers' latest tactics.
It used to be relatively easy to spot a scam email as it would be full of spelling mistakes and poor grammar. Recently this hasn't been the case and, in a further bid to win you over, recent scammers have even started to address you by your first name. In a recent Which? article it was reported that they may even personalise the scam further by using information they already know about you. For example, if you are an animal lover the scam email may purport to be from an animal charity to try to trick you.
Early scams offered you large amounts of money if you just send an amount of money e.g. £1000 for the transfer fee. This type of email started to ring alarm bells for too many people so scammers changed their tactics. Now they sometimes send out emails alleging to be from a shop you use and ask you to fill in a short survey during which they gather lots of your personal information. In exchange they say they'll give you a cash incentive such as £100 - an amount large enough to get you to fill in the survey but not so much to immediately arouse your suspicions - in some scams they ask for your bank details to transfer the money to you!
So what should you look out for?
- Contact will be unsolicited
- There will usually be an attempt to pressurise you into responding quickly either by scaring you into thinking there has been a breach of your bank account or by offering cash incentives
And what should you do?
- If in any doubt don't reply. Remember, banks, building societies and government bodies will never ask for sensitive information in this way
- Get a second opinion - discussing the email with someone is often the best way to spot the flaw
If you want to discuss this further or need any help on this topic don’t hesitate to call me.
