Scams

A rogue trader in Cornwall has been jailed for conning people out of £355k.

Sean David McCann, from St Kew in Bodmin, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday 18 January.

Following an extensive investigation by Cornwall Council Trading Standards, the 48-year-old entered guilty pleas to five charges at an earlier hearing.

The total for 2022 was more than double the £31.5m reported as lost to Action Fraud in the previous 12 months.

Social media users caught in financial scams lost nearly £75 million to fraudsters in the space of a year, figures suggest.

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2024/01/11/social-media-users-report-losing-75m-to-financial-scams-in-one-year/

A Glen Parva man has spoken of his heartbreak after he was "scammed" out of his £100,000 life savings. Paul Henderson received three separate phone calls from what he thought was The Co-operative bank fraud department on Wednesday, December 13.

84-year-old Paul said that he had to request a new visa card two weeks prior because the one attached to his account was used for a £30 fraudulent transaction. Because of this, he did not have any reservations when he received a call from what he thought was the fraud team.

UK consumers lost £75mn to financial scams on social media in one year alone, with a total of 3,597 reports to the police about investment fraud.

According to a Freedom of Information request submitted to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau by comparison site Good Money Guide, Instagram was mentioned in more than half of cases, followed by Facebook with 1,193 reports.

https://www.ftadviser.com/your-industry/2024/01/11/savers-lose-75mn-a-year-to-financial-scams-on-social-media/

Dru Marshall attempted to sell a walking stick he falsely claimed was used by the late monarch.

A 26-year-old man who claimed to be the Queen’s footman has been sentenced for defrauding buyers on eBay who bid for a walking stick he falsely claimed was used by the late monarch “as she struggled with her mobility”.

https://www.irishnews.com/news/uk/man-sentenced-for-claiming-to-be-queens-footman-for-ebay-scam-JOXF4BT27JKKPLXL3RUBBVMDXM/

Shoppers are being warned to remain vigilant when shopping this festive period as over two-thirds (62%) of scam victims over 65 have fallen to a purchase scam, research from Feedzai, the financial crime and risk management solution, has found.

https://ifamagazine.com/scammers-are-out-for-elder-adults/

Experts from Love The Sales have shared their advise on how to avoid falling for scams during Boxing Day and January sales.

A large part of Christmas preparations is doing your shopping, whether it be groceries for the big day or snapping up those last minute presents. As Black Friday and Cyber Monday ended the November savings, the next round of sales are here.

https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/shopping/experts-boxing-day-sale-scams-8991262

A new guide to help protect older people against web fraud has revealed the growing sophistication of WhatsApp scams.

The 28-page document put together by Cyber & Fraud Centre – Scotland shows how criminals are using the social media app to impersonate friends and family.

https://futurescot.com/new-guide-for-older-people-reveals-growing-sophistication-of-whatsapp-scams/

A man from Letchworth has been jailed after he defrauded dozens of people out of more than £10,000.

https://www.thecomet.net/news/23977026.letchworth-man-jailed-fraud-worth-10-000/?ref=twtrec

Many of us are spending more time than ever shopping online. Our online shopping guidance can help you to avoid scam websites, and purchase items safely.

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/shopping-online-securely