Scams August 2023

Details on the latest UK scams

Scams are a serious threat to consumers in the UK, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Fraudsters are constantly coming up with new ways to trick people into handing over their money or personal information. Here are some of the latest scams you need to be aware of and how to avoid them.

Purchase scams

The latest UK Finance figures show purchase scams – where you pay for an item you never receive – were the most common form of ‘authorised’ payment scam in 2022, with more than 117,000 reports. These scams involve fraudsters tricking unsuspecting shoppers into buying items through dodgy websites, auction sites or via social media.

To avoid purchase scams, you should always check the seller's reputation and reviews before buying anything online. You should also be wary of offers that seem too good to be true, such as branded goods at very low prices. If possible, use a secure payment method that offers protection, such as PayPal or a credit card, and avoid paying by bank transfer or gift cards.

Impersonation scams

Impersonation scams accounted for the majority of reports (69%) to Which? Scam Sharer tool between March 1st and November 1st 2021. Fraudsters most commonly pretended to be from banks, household brands, the NHS and government departments. They contacted victims by phone, text or email and tried to persuade them to reveal their personal or financial details, or to make a payment.

One phone scam that peaked last year, and continues to do the rounds, is a recorded voice message claiming to be from the National Crime Agency. The sternly worded warning from the National Crime Agency sounds serious, and many people got in touch with Which? because they were worried it could be real. The message tells you that your National Insurance number has been compromised and that you need to press 1 to speak to an officer. If you do, you'll be connected to a fraudster who will try to get your personal information or money.

To avoid impersonation scams, you should always hang up on unsolicited calls and ignore suspicious texts or emails. You should never give out your personal or financial details to anyone who contacts you out of the blue. You can also use a call blocker app or device to stop unwanted calls from reaching you.

Fake job scams

Scammers posing as recruiters are impersonating companies in texts and WhatsApp messages advertising non-existent jobs. After luring you in with the promise of well-paid flexible roles, these texts typically lead to more complex scams. For example, you may be asked to pay a fee for a background check, training or equipment, or you may be asked to provide your bank details for salary payments.

To avoid fake job scams, you should always research the company and the recruiter before applying for any job. You should also be wary of any job offers that come unsolicited or without an interview. You should never pay any money upfront for a job opportunity or give out your bank details to anyone you don't know or trust.

Copycat websites

Scammers are impersonating popular retailers in dodgy adverts on Facebook and other social media platforms. The links in these ads take you to copycat websites, where scammers will attempt to steal your bank details or infect your device with malware. For example, scammers have been using fake Joules ads offering discounted clothing as part of a liquidation sale.

To avoid copycat websites, you should always type the retailer's web address directly into your browser rather than clicking on links in ads or emails. You should also check the website's URL for spelling errors or unusual characters, and look for signs of security such as a padlock icon and 'https' at the beginning. You can also use tools like Trustpilot or Scamadviser to check the reputation of a website before buying anything from it.

iSpoof scam

More than 100 people have been arrested in the UK’s biggest ever fraud operation, which brought down a website police describe as a “one-stop spoofing shop” used by scammers to steal tens of millions of pounds from Britons via fake bank phone calls. The website, called iSpoof, allowed fraudsters to spoof any phone number they wanted and make it appear on the victim's caller ID. This way, they could pretend to be calling from legitimate organisations such as banks, HMRC or police and convince victims to transfer money or reveal their details.

To avoid iSpoof scam, you should never trust caller ID as a way of verifying who is calling you. You should always hang up if someone asks you to move your money to a 'safe' account or to reveal your PIN or password. You should also wait at least five minutes before calling back the organisation on a trusted number, or use a different phone, to make sure you're not still connected to the fraudster.