Scams

Criminals are targeting Snapchat users, taking over accounts and trying to extort money sometimes threatening to reveal private photos, warn police.

A scam involving fraudsters posing as customer service staff from Amazon to steal personal information has been flagged by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI).

https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/18590138.amazon-prime-phishing-scam-warning-signs-look/?ref=twtrec

SCAMMERS targeting residents of the Outer Hebrides have been claiming to be police and castigating people for not wearing face masks.

https://www.thenational.scot/news/18591194.coronavirus-face-masks-scam-fraudsters-imitate-police/?ref=twtrec

TV Licensing chiefs and Sussex Police have warned the public to be on their guard as fraudsters have been sending out thousands of authentic-looking but bogus TV licence payment demands by email.

Billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates are among many prominent US figures targeted by hackers on Twitter in an apparent Bitcoin scam.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-53425822

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has received evidence of fake gas bills sent to the public via email.

An estimated 300 incidences of organised criminals impersonating legitimate vehicles sold by investment management firms have occurred since late 2019, scamming savers out of approximately £4m, with the figure boosted significantly since the beginning of lockdown, according to the Investment Association.

https://www.professionaladviser.com/news/4017746/lockdown-investment-scams-cost-savers-gbp-ia

Dorset Police are warning us about a scam text message which is set up to mimic the coronavirus track and trace service.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is urging the public to be vigilant in light of reports of a telephone/text scam from criminals claiming to be contact tracing and testing staff.

Many dog owners will look back at the coronavirus lockdown and self-quarantine as the start of their puppy journey.