Scams

Drivers are being warned of scammers hijacking promotions for parking apps to trick victims into setting up recurring payments.

Consumer experts Which? have highlighted the risk, which targets victims with misleading adverts and encourages them to sign up for unrelated subscription packages.

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23720450.parking-app-scam-targeting-uk-drivers-subscriptions/

A fraudulent builder has been jailed after several customers across Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire were left out-of-pocket with homes that are unfinished.

Following an investigation into several complaints, Michael Corcoran, of Stainswick Lane in Swindon, was sentenced to four years and three months.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/fraudulent-builder-forces-victim-early-150000995.html/

A spokesperson said large community and religious groups are being targeted by the scam, which often begins when a member receives a WhatsApp audio call from the scammer, under the pretence of being a member. This is done in order to earn the victim’s trust, and the scammer will often use a fake name or profile picture to pass as a real member of the group.

https://uk.style.yahoo.com/watch-whatsapp-scam-already-claimed-105725864.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr

AMAZON has issued an urgent warning over fraudsters trying to con shoppers out of their hard-earned cash.

The e-commerce giant is alerting customers to two scams whereby customers are sent dodgy texts and emails.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/23262790/amazon-warning-shoppers-money-scam-fraud-warning/

She ended up not only paying for a massage she didn’t want, but somehow he persuaded her to hand over her flipflops too. By day seven, we only had enough cash left to share a watermelon for breakfast, lunch and dinner and get a bus back to the airport. It was as if we’d signed up for an intensive scam awareness course.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/10-scams-watching-summer-holidays-044500862.html/

Large community and religious WhatsApp groups are being targeted by scammers who infiltrate these groups to deceive their members into sending them money. Action Fraud confirm they have received 268 reports since January this year.

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/alert/action-fraud-warn-of-recent-whatsapp-scam-hitting-community-and-religious-groups

A person in their 60s has been conned into handing over £150,000 in a cryptocurrency scam, police have said.

Gloucestershire Police have repeated warnings about the dangers of these types of crimes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-66273425

Police are warning people to remain vigilant over free smartphone giveaways which are scams.

Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, has received more than 800 reports relating to fake emails purporting to giveaway free mobile phones.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/police-warn-people-remain-vigilant-100800998.html/

Nottinghamshire fraud officers are urging residents to say ‘no’ to cold callers after numerous victims were conned out of thousands of pounds.

Nottinghamshire Police has received a rise in reports of rogue or bogus traders targeting vulnerable residents in doorstep scams.

https://westbridgfordwire.com/warning-after-spate-of-cold-caller-scams-in-nottinghamshire-con-victims-out-of-more-than-100000/

The Security Minister convened a meeting of the Joint Fraud Taskforce to discuss measures to tackle fraud including an online fraud charter.

Representatives from across the private sector met at 10 Downing Street to update government on progress made to tackle fraud and protect the public from scams.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-and-industry-meet-to-progress-the-fight-against-fraud