Frauds

A costly £157million was lost to dating scams worldwide last year, with online romance fraud setting Australian victims back an eyewatering $38million in 2020, according to a new study.

https://thefintechtimes.com/catfishing-hotspots-revealed-as-dating-scams-hit-157million-globally/

Strathclyde Pension Fund has reported a "significant potential fraud that had occurred over a lengthy timeframe" to Police Scotland, after discovering that around £300,000 had been paid to a deceased pensioner.

https://pensionsage.com/pa/Strathclyde-reports-300k-significant-potential-fraud-to-police.php

A conman who duped two vulnerable victims out of more than £100,000 by charging "hugely inflated prices" for household repairs has been jailed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-58189584

Four men allegedly defrauded "extremely vulnerable" and elderly homeowners after "pressurising" them into doing work on their properties, a trial has heard.

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/men-defrauded-extremely-vulnerable-homeowners-21224634?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

A West Cumbrian fuel card fraudster has admitted a crime which a prosecutor has told a judge amounts to just over £8,000.

https://cumbriacrack.com/2021/08/10/west-cumbrian-man-admits-to-8000-fuel-card-fraud/

The granddaughter of a pensioner in her 80s robbed by a Cumnock fraudster who stole money from their gran as well as using a vulnerable pensioner’s bank card have revealed the devastating affect on the victim.

https://www.cumnockchronicle.com/news/19490251.familys-disgust-cumnock-carer-stole-money-gran-80s/?ref=twtrec

A salon owner from Cornwall who was duped out of nearly £3000 when two men bought a pair of hair straighteners from her says she is upset after what has already been a difficult year.

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-08-05/cornwall-salon-owner-upset-after-losing-nearly-3k-in-straightener-refund-scam

Nottinghamshire Pension Fund Committee has signed up to a national initiative from the Pensions Regulator in a bid to combat pension scams and protect Nottinghamshire Pension Fund members.

https://westbridgfordwire.com/councillors-sign-up-to-initiative-to-stop-pension-fraud-scams/

Guernsey Police are warning people to take care when paying rental deposits.

It is after another scam was reported, where someone paid a deposit for a property that did not exist.

https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2021-08-06/guernsey-police-warning-over-latest-rent-deposit-scam

A NEW scheme called ScamSmart has been endorsed by the pension ombudsman to raise awareness of pension scams and give people the information they need to spot them.