Frauds

SOCIAL media users have been urged not to fall for a recent scam over tenancy deposit payments.

The warning came from North Wales Police on Wednesday evening.

A spokesman said: "Detectives in our Economic Crime Unit are warning the public to be vigilant against a scam that is taking place through Facebook Marketplace and other online platforms.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/scammers-taking-fraudulent-deposit-payments-from-people-looking-for-homes/ar-AA1g232V?ocid=socialshare

Former Co-op Bank boss Paul Flowers has been accused of defrauding someone of carpets and by using cheques while acting under a power of attorney.

The case against the 73-year-old was detailed in court listings at a hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, where the case was adjourned until next week.

https://www.cityam.com/former-co-op-bank-boss-paul-flowers-accused-of-carpet-fraud/

Pensions scams are being woefully underreported because the reporting structure is not fit for purpose, according to Margaret Snowdon, chair of the Pension Scam Industry Group (PSIG).

https://www.pensions-expert.com/DC-Auto-enrolment/Stop-blaming-victims-for-pension-scams-and-fix-the-system-to-expose-them?ct=true

Two elderly residents lost £14,000 after con artists pretended to be police offers and convinced them to hand over the money.

Northumbria Police said it received two reports of fraud involving victims, both from the Gosforth area of Newcastle and in their 80s, on Wednesday 24 August.

https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2023-08-25/elderly-victims-lost-14000-after-con-artists-posed-as-police-officers

A Cumbrian woman has been jailed for a £1.1 million fraud.

Janice Johnson, 66, of Thwaites, Millom, claimed she was the sole beneficiary of her neighbour’s farming estate in Broughton-in-Furness.

Following an eight-day trial at Preston Crown Court, Johnson was convicted of five counts of fraud by false representation.

https://cumbriacrack.com/2023/08/25/cumbrian-woman-jailed-for-1-1-million-fraud/

A post shared on both Twitter (now known as X) and Facebook claims that “For every 1p lost to benefit ‘thieves’, £2 is lost to Tax Avoiders.”

This is not correct. According to government figures, more revenue is estimated to be lost due to benefit fraud than tax avoidance.

https://fullfact.org/immigration/benefit-fraud-tax-avoidance-losses/

Fraudulent insurance claims tumbled by nearly a fifth to the lowest level since 2005 last year but the value of the average scam surged to a record £15,000 as fraudsters are increasingly “aiming big”, according to a report.

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2023/08/23/insurance-scams-drop-by-nearly-a-fifth-but-value-jumps-as-fraudsters-aim-big/

Renters are at risk from criminals taking advantage of the squeezed property market, an association has warned.

The National Association of Property Buyers says there are increasing cases of scammers placing fake listing adverts on sites such as Facebook and Gumtree that seem identical to ads for genuine properties.

https://propertyindustryeye.com/warning-of-huge-increase-in-fraudsters-targeting-the-property-market/

A woman from Milton Keynes has been given a suspended prison sentence for giving unregulated immigration advice and committing fraud.

Johanna Loader, 35, who lives on Oberon Way at Oxley Park, was the subject of an investigation by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/bogus-milton-keynes-immigration-advisor-150011070.html/

The financial watchdog has urged borrowers to watch out for signs of a common advance fee loan scam this summer.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is warning the public about a surge in loan fee fraud (aka advance loan fee fraud).

This type of fraud scams borrowers into paying an upfront fee for a loan they then don’t receive, with losses averaging £260 per person.

https://www.yourmoney.com/credit-cards-loans/loan-fee-fraud-on-the-rise-how-you-can-avoid-the-scam-of-the-summer/