Twelve Festive frauds to look out for

FORCEWIDE

As part of our annual #OpYuletide messaging this year, we’re launching our 12 festive frauds a little earlier in the lead up to the highly anticipated Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

In the three months leading up to Christmas last year, £140k was lost from online shopping fraud – that’s an average of £715 per person!

A priority for our force, the seriousness of fraud needs to be reiterated, along with the financial and emotional impact it has on victims.

Detective Inspector Ben Robinson, from Humberside Police’s ECU said;

“In the Humberside Police area, 316 people lost a total of £240k after shopping and other frauds during the festive period last year, but on average, only one in seven cases are reported to us.

“Just imagine what these figures would show if more people came forward, especially since people are more likely to be a victim of fraud than any other offence.

“Not only this, but fraud is the highest concern for the public, that’s behind violent crime and terrorism, and above sexual offences. This just shows how crucial it is to disrupt fraudsters and protect the public – ensuring nobody becomes a victim of fraud due to lack of awareness.

“The impact of fraud can be considerable, having a huge effect on people’s confidence and wellbeing, as well as their financial situation. I too have been a victim in the past and can really relate to the victims we speak to daily.

“We need continue to increase knowledge of the many different types of fraud and methods used, but most of all we really want to empower people to be able to protect themselves and those they love from becoming a victim of these crimes.

“Over the next 12 days, we’re going to be sharing 12 different types of fraud to be weary of throughout the festive period and if you have any concerns or questions, make sure to contact us via our non-emergency number 101 or by following #SayNoToFraud on social media.

“You can also visit the dedicated website in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside for more information: www.saynotofraud.uk”

Day 1: Friday 17 November

You might not believe it, but the festive season is upon us and it’s almost time to start your Christmas shopping (but don’t brag if you have finished already!)

A lot of us might be waiting in anticipation for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, so in the lead up to this shopping frenzy, we’re going to be highlighting different frauds to help you keep your money safe and out of the pockets of criminals.

❗️ Today we’re urging you to be on your guard against those operating cost of living scams like falsely offering grants or scam energy discount texts.

Criminals are experts at impersonating people. Stop, think, and take five, as it could protect you and your money.

Day 2: Saturday 18 November

💷 Investment fraud is where criminals will present professional and credible looking online adverts, send emails, and create websites to advertise fake investment opportunities.

Day 3: Sunday 19 November

🤔 Are you donating to charity this Christmas? Don’t let your money end up in a criminal’s pocket.

The risk of fraud should not put you off giving to charities but should be vigilant and make sure you are giving safely.

Day 4: Monday 20 November

Paws for thought this Christmas before buying a pet online.

⚠️Do your research

⚠️Trust your instincts

⚠️Choose your payment method wisely

Don’t get caught out by those puppy dog eyes!

Day 5: Tuesday 21 November

📲 Millions of pounds has been lost to scams that involved criminals remotely connecting to a victim’s computer.

⚠️Never allow remote access to your computer following an unsolicited call, text message or browser pop-up. It’s probably a scam.

Day 6: Wednesday 22 November

🤔 Received a suspicious message that you're unsure about?

Fake messages can be difficult to spot, and criminals put in a lot of effort to make their communication look legitimate so it’s important to take your time and not act too quickly.

Spot if someone is phishing:

• Check the email address – is it the company they’re saying they’re from? If they’re mismatched email domains, then it’s probably a scam
• Hover over any links – do they go where they say they should?
• Bad spelling and grammar, or unfamiliar language
• Urgent calls to action or threats! Remember, take five

Day 7: Thursday 23 November

💕 Met someone online who's asking you for money?

Does it seem too good to be true?

It probably is.

Stop and think as it could protect you and your cash.

Criminals are experts at impersonating people. They spend hours researching you for their scams, especially when committing romance fraud.

Hear from real people who have had real experiences: https://www.humberside-pcc.gov.uk/Help-and-Advice/Say-No-To-Fraud/Say-No-to-Fraud-Video-and-Audio.aspx

Watch our force film: 

Day 8: Friday 24 November

🤔It’s Black Friday and millions of people will be shopping online for all the Christmas cheer.

🎁 Fraudsters can take advantage of you hunting for bargains and could steal thousands of pounds on average from each victim.

Shop safely:

• Choose carefully where you shop
• Use a credit card for online payments
• Only provide enough details to complete your purchase
• Keep your accounts secure and don’t use the same password for everything!
• Watch out for suspicious emails, text messages and websites

Day 9: Saturday 25 November

❗️ Courier fraud is when victims receive a phone call from a criminal who is pretending to be a police officer or bank official.

🤔 Don’t assume a phone call is authentic just because someone knows your name and address.

Day 10: Sunday 26 November

🎫 Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, official promoter or agent, or a well-known and reputable ticket site.

Day 11: Monday 27 November

💳 Cloned company scams affect both new and experienced investors. Fraudsters are impersonating the websites of real firms offering investments in stocks, cryptocurrency, and ISA’s.

Day 12: Tuesday 28 November

It’s the last day of our #12FestiveFrauds and today we’re dreaming about that winter sun…

⛱️ So if you’re thinking of getting some winter sun or going on a cosy festive break this year, bear this in mind.

🤔 Don’t be tempted by too good to be true deals on flights and accommodation. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is!

https://www.humberside-pcc.gov.uk/Help-and-Advice/Say-No-to-Fraud.aspx

#SayNoToFraud #TakeFive #12festivefrauds