Scams

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute has announced the formation of Business Against Scams (BAS), an initiative led by National Trading Standards and joined by more than 100 organisations set up to train employees and help them identify and prevent scams which they may be targets of as a result of working from home due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. BAS is providing free online training modules dealing with the most common scams involving businesses, such as government grants and tax refunds, requests to amend payment details, technological support and repair offers and impersonating a CEO, and also teaches employees how to avoid falling victims to such fraud.

https://www.lexisnexis.co.uk/blog/covid-19/businesses-against-scams-initiative-launched-to-prevent-fraud-amid-coronavirus-(covid-19)#.XuKhl2GhLRE.twitter

DVLA chiefs have warned motorists the dangers of opening an ongoing vehicle tax refund scam which has been sent to possibly thousands of phones in the UK.

Public Health England have told potential contacts to be wary of suspicious messages and check the Government website

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/05/30/nhs-contact-tracing-undermined-hackers-sending-fraudulent-warnings/

Our annual Scams Awareness campaign aims to create a network of confident, alert consumers who know what to do when they spot a scam.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/sa20/

The Pensions Regulator has repeated its warning about scams after a report showed more than £5m has been lost to fraud since February.

https://www.ftadviser.com/pensions/2020/06/08/regulator-repeats-anti-scam-warning-as-5m-lost-to-fraud/

The next step of the UK’s battle against coronavirus has been rolled out, months after it was abandoned because the system couldn’t cope with the influx of cases. Contact tracing, where anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 is quizzed about their recent movements, and people who have been in close proximity with them are contacted and told to self-isolate, has been launched.

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/nhs-track-and-trace-scams

North Wales Police are urging people to be vigilant amid concerns that the new coronavirus track and trace system will be exploited by fraudsters.

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has warned that scammers “thrive” in the current pandemic environment after figures from ActionFraud showed £5.1m has been lost to fraud since February.

https://pensionsage.com/pa/Fraudsters-thriving-as-pandemic-scam-losses-top-5m.php

Track and trace scam – With the launch of the NHS test and trace service, it is likely that fraudsters may try to exploit this service by posing as contact tracers.

Householders who use off grid fuel are being urged to be on guard against fraudsters after hundreds of attempts.

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/crime/2020/06/03/householders-urged-to-be-on-guard-after-hundreds-of-fraud-bids/