Phishing is the same, but with email. Once the information is obtained, fraudsters will be able to scam you, access your bank accounts or even apply for credit or benefits in your name.
Always challenge any requests to click any links or call any phone numbers
- Check where emails are sent from - help@starllngbank.com looks pretty legit doesn’t it? Note that the ‘i’ in ‘Starling’ has been replaced with a lowercase ‘l’
- Phone numbers can be spoofed and fraudulent texts can fall into a genuine chain of messages, so don’t be fooled into thinking this makes a message legitimate or safe
- If you’re sent a link to log in to an account, don’t click it. Type the website into your browser or search on Google to ensure you’re on the real website
- Check any phone number you’re asked to call online, to make sure it genuinely belongs to the company you’re expecting
- Install your device software updates to ensure you have the latest security
Find out more on how to spot a suspicious email.
Investment scams
Ever thought about trying to make a bit of extra money by investing? If so, you might have noticed that there are lots of ‘opportunities’ advertised on social media.
“I doubled my money in 24 hours, DM me to find out how”
Adverts like these are usually accompanied by reviews from other investors, telling you how happy they are with the returns they received.
Scammers use social media to trick people into ‘investing’ their money into schemes that don’t really exist and may even impersonate real investment companies to make the opportunity look genuine. They may create fake websites. Sometimes they’ll ask you to send money into legitimate investment platforms or to money transfer services before they steal it from you.
Here are things you can do to make sure you’re investing with a real company:
- Don’t trust anyone who approaches you on social media offering to invest your money for you. Genuine companies don’t do this
- Always make sure you check that a financial advisor or an investment company is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It’s the best way to determine if a company/advisor is genuine and regulated. You can also use the contact details listed for genuine companies
- Use the FCA’s Scam Smart page to check if an investment you’ve found could be a scam
More information can be found in our investment scam blog.
Purchase scams
Looking for a bargain? Social media and online marketplaces might be your go to, but are you taking steps to check that you’re going to receive what you’ve paid for?
“AirPods on sale - £70 - DM me”
Criminals will often advertise electronics, designer clothing or tickets to events at a heavily discounted price - when in fact the goods don’t really exist. They’ll pressure you to make a payment quickly to secure the items and tell you to make a payment by bank transfer. These are warning signs that you may be about to be scammed. Always avoid paying by bank transfer.