Scams

Tricksters are preying on the most vulnerable in our society

AMAZON customers have been put on alert about a range of scam emails that have been circulated amid the coronavirus crisis.

What is a scam? The generally accepted definition of a scam is a fraud involving any type of illegal transaction by a criminal that results in the victim being deprived of their funds or sensitive information. One common feature of a scam is the criminal often takes advantage of a situation that involves a heightened state of distress, panic or anxiety. This heightened state causes the victim to be more vulnerable and therefore easier to be taken advantage of.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2020/05/06/four-common-scams-and-how-to-avoid-them/#4fdb388433ae

Prior to the pandemic, financial crime was estimated at $2.1 trillion on an annual basis.

Action Fraud has found that throughout March and April, a total of 669 people have lost a combined £282,686 after paying for pets they've seen advertised online.

Shoppers at Aldi have been warned of voucher scam in circulation on social media.

Animal lovers looking to purchase pets during the coronavirus lockdown have collectively been scammed out of more than £280,000 over the past two months, according to Action Fraud.

Online auction sites are being flooded with fake adverts as part of ‘sophisticated fraud’

Dog lovers in the Anglia region are being urged to watch out for fraudsters after reports of fake online puppy traders tricking people out of their money during the lockdown.

The past few weeks have opened up a new world of criminal possibilities, with fraudsters cashing in to the tune of £2.5 million so far, according to Action Fraud. The scale of attempted fraud is even more staggering – Google has said it’s blocking 18 million hoax coronavirus e-mails every day.