Top 5 Scams to Watch Out For
In today’s digital age, scammers are more cunning than ever. Protect yourself and your loved ones by staying informed about the latest tactics used by fraudsters. Here are the top 5 scams to be aware of, along with tips on how to avoid falling victim to them.
1. Mobile Malware
Summary: Mobile malware is harmful software that can spy on and control your mobile device. It can steal your information, change your device settings, and access your apps – including your banking apps.
Criminals often sneak malware onto your device using apps they’ve made. They make one that seems useful, like a PDF reader or file manager, and add it to a genuine app store. When you install it, it works as normal. Weeks or months later, the app says it needs an update. The update contains malware that installs itself without you realising.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Be suspicious if an app asks for accessibility permissions.
- Always install the latest security updates for your device.
- If a text or email has a link to an app you don’t recognise, don’t download it.
- Use two-factor authentication to keep important apps safe.
- Install anti-virus software on all devices. Research what’s available before choosing one.
- If your device is acting strangely, like freezing or restarting, check your bank account and follow the advice on gov.uk on how to recover an infected device.
2. Travel Website Scams
Summary: Scammers set up fake websites offering great prices on things like flights and hotels. They make it seem like there are only a few bookings left, so you feel pressured to act quickly. They might say they’re registered with ATOL (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing) and use the logo, so you think it’s safe to continue.
You start booking online, but they say you need to pay over the phone. The scammer calls and asks for your card details and one-time passcode, but they don’t book anything for you. Instead, they use your card to buy flights in someone else’s name.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Remember – you’ll never need a one-time passcode to get a refund or to cancel a transaction. If someone says you do, it’s a scam.
- Don’t assume a website is genuine because it’s at the top of your search results. Scammers can pay for this position.
- Be wary if a website says you can only complete your booking over the phone.
- If a website claims to be registered with ATOL, use the ATOL website to check the registration is genuine.
- Be careful when looking for bargains. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
3. Screen-Sharing Scam
Summary: Criminals are convincing people to download screen-sharing applications to scam them. They’ll sometimes pose as your bank or an investment company and offer to help you set up a new payee or account. They might even pretend to be your internet provider or other utility company and offer to fix a fake issue.
They’ll get you to download a screen-sharing application so they can ‘help’ you. This lets them see and control your computer, even after they’ve told you they’ve finished the task.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Remember, we’ll never ask you to move your money to a ‘safe account’.
- Don’t let someone offering to help you with finances take control of your computer for any reason.
- Be wary of anyone asking you to download software you aren’t familiar with.
4. Romance Scams
Summary: Not everyone is who they say they are, and scammers can pretend to be someone else online. Always do your background research on the person you’re speaking to, and don’t transfer money to someone you haven’t met in person – especially if they say they’re overseas and need the money for some kind of emergency. If you’re unsure about someone, get an opinion from someone else you trust.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Do thorough background research on the person you’re speaking to online.
- Never transfer money to someone you haven’t met in person.
- If you’re unsure about someone, ask for an opinion from a trusted friend or family member.
5. WhatsApp Friends and Family Scams
Summary: Scammers send messages where they impersonate your family members or friends. They’ll give a reason why they’re using a different number, like saying they’ve lost their phone, then mention a reason they need money, such as an unpaid bill or a lost wallet. Never send a photo of the front and back of your card – this will allow someone to make purchases using your card or even access your online banking.
How to Protect Yourself:
- If you get a message from friends or family asking for money, give them a call on a number you trust and speak to them before you make any payments.
- If you believe you’ve been contacted on WhatsApp by someone using a fraudulent number, please help WhatsApp close down these numbers by reporting it directly to them. You do this by tapping the three vertical dots at the top right of the screen in the chat, choose ‘More’ and then ‘Report’. Once you’ve done that, you can repeat those steps to block the number from contacting you again.
Stay vigilant and informed to protect yourself from these scams. Share this information with friends and family to help keep them safe too!
