Here are just some of the scams we should be on the lookout for.
Police are warning people over doorstep scammers who pose as ex-offenders. The scam involves people posing as ex-offenders going door to door selling items and Greater Manchester Police force are so concerned they have issued a warning. Bogus sellers are posing as reformed criminals and targeting homes in and around Greater Manchester.
Scammers have been visiting homes and telling residents that they are working as part of a probation service scheme, officers say there is no such scheme and have warned residents not to answer the door to anyone they don’t know and report any suspicious activity. So far two men have been arrested but police think there are more scammers out there planning to target vulnerable people.
Some more scams watchdogs are warning us about.
Wedding Scams – it’s not just the height of the holiday season, the wedding season is well under way and the scammers are out to take advantage. Engaged couples could be easy prey as they search for good deals. Beware of fake websites and even fake wedding planners. Always check the website name thoroughly and do your research.
Romance Scams – We have seen a massive increase all over the press recently, they have been around for a while but criminals seem to be upping their game when it comes to this sort of crime. Criminals will create fake profiles and prey on people looking for love online. They use peoples details to convince someone they are speaking to a real person and ask them to send them money. Lonely and vulnerable people are at risk and thousands of pounds have been lost by innocent victims.
Home scams – Computer hackers monitor emails between solicitors and first-time buyers. They then pretend to be the solicitor and tell them the solicitors’ bank account details have changed in order to steal cash.
Money mules – Scammers trawl the internet and find people they can use to inadvertently launder money. Money mules receive the stolen funds into their account, they are then asked to withdraw it and send the money to a different account, often one overseas, keeping some of the money for themselves.
The lesson here is if something feels wrong then it is usually right to pause and question it. Don’t give out personal information to anyone, no matter where they say they work and be cautious about what you post on social media, criminals can gather a lot of information from your profile. Finally, if you think something is fraudulent, report it. That way we can help put an end the fraudulent activity and the criminals you commit these types of crimes.
