Scams

What is a scam?

Scams are fraud and fraud is crime. According to the National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team: “Scams make victims part with their money and personal details by intimidating them or promising cash, prizes, services and fictitious high returns on investment.”

Reporting a scam

Scams should be reported to Action Fraud on their website or by calling 0300 123 2040 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm).

Action Fraud is the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. It collects reports about fraud on behalf of the police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In the case of doorstep scams (rogue trading, distraction burglary or Nottingham Knockers), these should be reported to Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Call 999 if it’s a live incident or, if it has already happened, call 101 or use the reporting tool on the Cambridgeshire Constabulary website.

Forward suspicious e-mails to report@phishing.gov.uk

Forward suspicious texts to 7726.

In all cases notify your bank as soon as possible if you think you have been scammed.

If you are concerned that somebody may be responding to scams

If you have concerns that somebody you know is responding to scams, talk to them about it. If they would like the scams to be investigated, encourage them to report them as above.

Sometimes people who become trapped in a cycle of responding to scams have additional support needs. If you think this is the case, you can contact the County Council’s Adult Safeguarding Team to see what support could be put in place.

The harm of scams

Not only do scams cause financial harm to their victims they can also cause harm to a person’s wellbeing. Anxiety, fear, depression and even suicidal thoughts can result from being defrauded. Remember, scams are fraud and fraud is crime. You should report scams to Action Fraud just like you would report any other crime. Victims should be supported just as victims of any other crime are supported.

Protecting yourself and others from scams

Scammers target potential victims in a variety of ways. Click each of the methods scammers use below to read some top tips to protect yourself and others from the financial and emotional harm of scams. N.B. The examples given are not an exhaustive list, just examples of some of the more common scams in that category.

Scam post may promise fabulous prizes if you pay a fee or order something from a catalogue, usually for a competition you never entered. Clairvoyant letters may promise to reveal good fortune or protect you from bad luck when you send payment.

Top tips

Do not respond to any bogus letters. If you are not sure if a letter is genuine ask a friend or family member or call Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 for their advice.
Circle the return address, add ‘not known at this address’ and put in the post box

Post to FREEPOST SCAM MAIL

Consider becoming a scam marshal. Forward scam mail to the National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team for their investigations. This brings added perks such as a regular newsletter and the option to become penpals with other scam marshals.
If you or a family member are struggling to identify scam letters, consider a mail redirection to a trusted person . They can check for useful post such as utility bills, hospital appointments etc. and send any scam mail to the National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team

Scam phone calls come out-of-the-blue. They may try to pressure you to:

pay a fictitious outstanding bill
allow someone to access your computer remotely
make investments with fictitious high returns
transfer money to a supposed ‘safe’ account

They may arrange to send a bogus courier to you to collect something of value as part of an alleged investigation.

Top tips

Do not transfer money or give payment details, PIN numbers or other personal information to any phone caller
Join the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) to stop UK sales and marketing calls
Contact your phone service provider to see if they offer scam call blocking services
Consider investing in a call blocking device recommended by any reputable agency e.g. Police, National Trading Standards, Citizens Advice Bureau
Use a different handset or wait at least ten minutes for the line to clear if you receive a call on your landline and want to check its authenticity by calling the organisation the caller claimed to be from. Use a number you know to be correct, not a number the caller gives.

The internet is great for research, shopping and social interactions. However, it is also a space that scammers can use to con people with fake emails, websites or by pretending to be someone else.

Top tips

Check an email sender’s address by hovering over or clicking on their name. This can soon reveal whether a message is really from your bank or other official source the e-mail claims to be from.
Do not click on any links or attachments in an email unless you are certain the sender is genuine.
Do not rely on a Google search for finding something you are looking for online such as passport renewal. Scammers may pay to appear at the top of searches.
Do not send money to someone you have never met, even if they claim you can help in a crisis.

Cold callers at the door may offer home and landscape improvements at a special price. They may claim that they have been working nearby or that urgent work is required to avoid a disaster. They will take money up front but then either:

do not return
do a shoddy job that needs a genuine trader to fix
escalate the price during the job as they claim more and more work is necessary.

Nottingham Knockers claim to be selling items such as cleaning products to rehabilitate after a spell in prison when in reality they’re often using the opportunity to see if a resident is keeping cash in their home. Distraction burglars try to distract the resident while an accomplice gains access to steal valuables.

Top tips

The best thing is to not answer the door to anyone you weren’t expecting.
However, if you do decide to answer the door, make sure all other doors and windows are locked. Use a security chain before opening the door.
Ask to see ID from anybody claiming to be Police, a utility company, charity or local authority.
Check the ID for any tampering. Contact the organisation the visitor claims to represent using a number you know to be correct (not one appearing on the ID card).
Do not buy any goods at the door. Display a door sticker to deter cold callers, which you can obtain from your local library.
If you wish to have any property improvements, find approved traders on the Buy With Confidence scheme or at Safe Local Trades.

Common tactics

For each of the scam types above there are some common tactics:

contact looks or sounds official.
it may sound too good to be true or, on the other hand, it may feel threatening.
pressure to respond quickly (so you don’t have a chance to think it through/discuss with others).
ask for money or personal details or for you to follow some instructions on your computer.

If in doubt call Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline for advice on 0808 223 1133.

Become a Friend Against Scams

Friends Against Scams website has useful resources, including eLearning, to increase your understanding of scams. You can request a talk to your community group by emailing fraud&cyberprevent@cambs.police.uk .