1st November 2016 Scams – Think Before You Act and Don’t get caught out- that’s the reminder from the OFT. Most of us feel that we wouldn’t fall for a scam and that scams only affect ‘other people’. However, the reality is that you are very likely to be targeted at some point – scammers contact people on the Island every day and cases recently reported to OFT Consumer Advisors show the range of techniques they use:
Scammers like to catch people unawares or build trust, creating a false sense of security and avoiding raising suspicion in order to obtain money, or get personal information to be able to obtain money. The victim of the scam doesn’t realise that there may be dishonest attempts to take their money until it’s too late. This can especially be the case where contact has been on-going over weeks or even months; where a relationship of trust and confidence has been built-up. Scammers may claim to be from an organisation you regularly deal with, such as your bank. They may even claim to be alerting you to a breach of security and ask for urgent confirmation of your bank details. Scammers operate through all forms of communication – emails, social media, phone calls, text messages, letters and fax - and they target people of all ages and circumstances. Think about vulnerable or elderly friends and family – impress on them that they should always speak to someone they know prior to ordering items or giving out personal details. So, how can you prevent yourself becoming a victim? The main thing to remember is - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Look out for these warning signs:
Further information and advice on ‘Scams’ can be found under the ‘Consumer Advice’ section on this website or by calling the Office on 686500. Action Fraud’s website http://www.actionfraud.police.uk is also an excellent source of information about the many different types of scams and how to avoid them.
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