Scams

Across the world, many of us are patiently waiting to be called for the COVID-19 vaccine. And where there is anticipation and hope, fraudsters are also finding ways to exploit people’s vulnerabilities.

From setting strong passwords to reporting acts of cyber crime, there are a number of ways people can protect themselves from hackers.

Action Fraud have reported that over 500 people have contacted them in one week about fake Sainsburys emails stating that they have been selected to participate in a gift card giveaway. The recipient is invited to enter personal information on a linked website. Criminals sometimes send convincing looking but fraudulent emails to encourage people to take action. 

SMS phishing scam claims to offer a handsome tax rebate

Since people have been in local and national lockdowns across the globe, the use of the internet has accelerated at an incredible rate. Many meetings are now held online using apps such as Zoom, and food and retail shopping have almost completely gone tech-first.

In many people’s minds, a stereotypical scam victim is trusting, gullible and most likely, elderly. But, in actual fact, millennials are the most likely age group to be caught up in scams involving handing money, according to figures from Lloyds Bank last year.

A fourth woman who was part of a gang who committed large-scale fraud offences across the North West, including Alderley Edge, Mobberley and Knutsford, has been jailed.

Steve Timms, chairman of the Work and Pensions Committee, has joined calls from the City regulator for internet companies to take responsibility for financial scams promoted on their platforms.

Fraudsters have been targeting people across the region using the country's "most valuable tool" in beating coronavirus to scam residents for their bank details.

Police have issued a warning over a phishing text message scam circulating telling people that they are "eligible" for the Covid 19 vaccination.