Many scam artists use a crisis to their advantage and adapt old scams to prey on current fears. Known as ‘disaster fraud’, this creates a sense of urgency and plays on your worries, so you’ll find it harder to make rational decisions.
How to protect yourself:
Phone calls and doorstop scams:
- Take a moment to stop and think before parting with any money or information. If you’re not sure, you can always hang up the phone - it’s okay to challenge information given to you
- Never call someone back on the number provided – always try and find their contact details from a trusted source
- Banks, Police or the NHS will never ask you to transfer money or ask for personal information from you over the phone
- If you’re not expecting someone, and you’re unsure of the person’s identity, don’t open your door
Emails, passwords and security
- Create a separate password for your email account that’s unique to any other password
- Always update your device when prompted – the manufacturer may have found a security issue that needs fixing
- Turn on two-factor authentication where possible
- When choosing a password, use three random words and never use your birth year
How can I report a scam?
- If you think you’ve been scammed, it’s important to contact your bank immediately
- Report the scam to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or via their reporting site: reporting.actionfraud.police.uk
- If you’ve received a suspicious email, forward it to: [email protected]
- Any doorstep crimes should be reported to the police on 101 or if you’re in immediate danger call 999.
