Friends Against Scams Delivered by your Royal Bank of Scotland - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Friends Against Scams Delivered by your Royal Bank of Scotland Community Banker Information classification: Public

An initiative by National Trading Standards which aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams 2 Information classification: Public

Five key points about scams £5 – 10 53% Anyone 5% Criminals billion 3 Information classification: Public

A cycle of victimisation Victim responds to scam Personal Victim loses details added to a money Victim’s list Victim Criminals receives target the more scams victim approaches 4 Information classification: Public

Scams are the product of organised, predatory criminals… …who gain trust to exploit and steal money. Use befriending and grooming techniques Appear legitimate Helpful Persuasive Persistent Friendly Charming Threatening Aggressive Intimidating 5 Information classification: Public

Types of scams Telephone Doorstep Postal scams Online scams scams scams Have you ever been involved in one of these Scams? 6 Information classification: Public

Postal scams One victim added together all the alleged winnings from postal scam mail and over a six month period she would have won £2.8 million Lottery or Inheritance Clairvoyant Catalogue Prize Scams Scam Scams Draw Scam Many variations of Postal Scams exist 7 Information classification: Public

Would you respond? Customer’s 1st name is Requests money first used in the letter to make it before getting prize personal Letter is written to put Made to look authentic people under pressure to with directors name, reply picture and signature PO Boxes are used instead Stamps are used to make it of full postal address look official Fake testimonials or money Too good to be true offers back guarantees to make offer seem genuine Often says to keep their Made to look dazzling winnings a secret 8 Information classification: Public

Telephone scams In a recent project, whereby call blocker devices were installed in the homes of telephone scam victims, 93% of users felt safer as a result of having a device to eliminate scam calls Text Telephone Investment Pension Computer Message Scams Scam Scam Scam Fraud Many variations of Telephone scams exist – Remember callers will be extremely professional and already have gathered enough personal information about you to appear legitimate 9 Information classification: Public

Doorstep scams You are legally entitled to a 14 day cooling off period for contracts made in your home Doorstep Callers Bogus Callers (Rogue Traders) (Distraction Burglary) Do not buy, sell or trade from a cold approach 10 Information classification: Public

Online scams 53% of the population now view online crimes as seriously as ‘physical world’ crimes, destroying the notion internet fraud is ‘faceless’ and of less importance than other offences Impersonation Email Scams Romance Bogus Websites of UK officials (Phishing) Scam (e.g. HMRC) A “romance/relationship” scam online will quickly progress and your “friend” will ask you to send funds to help them out of an urgent and difficult situation – such as a medical emergency or trip abroad has gone wrong etc 11 Information classification: Public

Would you respond? (cont’d) Inconsistent Incorrect URL/ Poor spelling Pressure to Often contains Overuse of email address website links and grammar respond an attachment capital letters Absent or Inconsistent Vague or Not addressed Requests for inadequate subject and non-existent to a specific personal or financial email signature content subject person information 12 Information classification: Public

Looking after your friends & family – How to spot a victim… Postal Scams Telephone Scams Doorstep Scams Online Scams • Post office visits • Phone calls • Poor quality • Suspicious emails • Lots of mail • Unusual payments • Unnecessary work • Final demands • Purchasing stamps • SMS messages • Fearful • Refunds • Cheque books/ • “Friends” • Pressure • Online relationship issuing a higher • “Helpful caller” • Cash withdrawals • Helping a friend out number of cheques • Opportunities • Sometimes money • Payments • Products arriving at up front • “Something wrong home at the Bank” • Works • Free gifts appearing extended/follow up for orders placed/ visit more costs response made 13 Information classification: Public

Looking after our younger generation…………..  You may think it is only older people who get targeted by Scammers  Younger people are being targeted more and more Money Mules Identity Theft Fake Job Adverts Whilst identity theft, fake job adverts and money mule approaches can happen  to any of us they are particularly prevalent in the younger age group 14 Information classification: Public

Common scams impacting younger generation Money Mules Fake Job Adverts Identity Theft £ • Fraudsters collect their • A “Money Mule” is where • Jobs which offer good victims personal information someone's bank account is money for very little work from social media, hacking, used to launder the • Often the job adverts are stealing mail and from proceeds of crime posted online or on social personal information you • The criminal gangs behind media unknowingly provide these frauds are highly • Can ask you for fees • This information is used to organised, persistent and upfront for training/other apply for loans etc in the determined expenses victims name • Social Media is often used • Over pay you and then ask • You may not realise to recruit young Money you to return the anything has happened until Mules with a payment made overpayment and the an unexpected bill arrives to allow their bank account original payment “bounces” to be used • Check your privacy settings leaving you out of pocket & protect your information • It’s a crime 15 Information classification: Public

Top tips – What can you do to protect yourself and/or others? Never disclose 1 security details Don’t assume 2 everyone is genuine 3 Don’t be rushed Listen to your 4 instincts 5 Stay in control 16 Information classification: Public

Thank you for joining us today Visit us online for all the latest news and information about Friends Against Scams: www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk For advice or to report suspicious activity you can also contact Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline: 03454 04 05 06 17 Information classification: Public

Thank you 18 Information classification: Public