Be Scammer Aware

Please be aware of scammers - some people are trying to take advantage of the COVID -19 outbreak

PLEASE READ THE FORMATION BELOW FOR HOW TO STAY SAFE AND SECURE

Stop:

Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.

Challenge:

Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

Protect:

Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud. 

Your bank or the police will NEVER ask you to transfer money or move it to a safe account.

Criminals are targeting people looking to buy medical supplies online, sending emails offering fake medical support and scamming people who may be vulnerable or increasingly isolated at home. These frauds try to lure you in with offers that look too good to be true, such as high return investments and ‘healthcare opportunities’, or make appeals for you to support bogus charities or those who are ill.

Reports from the public have already included online shopping scams where people have ordered protective face masks, hand sanitiser, and other products, which have never arrived and a number of cases have been identified where fake testing kits have been offered for sale.

Criminals are also using Government branding to try to trick people, including reports of using HMRC branding to make spurious offers of financial support through unsolicited emails, phone calls and text messages.

This situation is likely to continue, with criminals looking to exploit further consequences of the pandemic, such as exploiting financial concerns to ask for upfront fees for bogus loans, offering high-return investment scams, or targeting pensions.

You can contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use this link

If in doubt don’t do it!

Call Age UK County Durham for advice and information