This scam has only been noticed in Australia as yet but it must only be matter of time before it goes global.
Cashiers at retail outlets are putting cashback on your bill when you do not ask for it and pocketing the money. They trust that you will not check your receipts or even just give you your card receipt so you cannot check if some of the amount was cashback.
The Tresury has agreed to continue funding for the National Fraud Authority (NFA), which set up and runs the consumer fraud thelephone and website helpline "Action Fraud".
As the only central point of ontact in the UK to which people can report fraud or seek advice. Action Fraud has already notched up more than 150,000 reports from customers is capturing data and intelligence that was not previously reported.
Action Fraud was set up a year ago and the loss from frauds reported to the helpline in the past year totalled £78M; with and average loss of £500. However in the last six months, the number of daily visitors to the organisation's website has risen more that four-fold. The most common frauds reported were in connection with online shopping and auctions. And with so many people loosing their jobs or trying to earn extra income, advance-fee frauds such as employment scams were also common.
People were also falling for psychic, online dating and mirical-cure scams. Action Fraud also received many reports about identity fraud, which is one of UK's fastest growing crimes. The Director of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) said "It has never been more important to provide a robust response to fraud. As these criminals become increasingly more organised and innovative, we need to constantly keep working to stay one step of them. By providing crime reports that form the central part of the NFIB intelligence, Action Fraud has assisted in the fight."
The NFA said it urges every victim of fraud to report their loss to Action Fraud. Too often people feel embarrassed about becoming a victim and stay silent. By protecting ourselves and reporting if we become a victim, we can all help stop the fraudsters.
Trading Standards would like to warn consumers about a firm making
unsolicited phone calls offering insurance for satellite equipment and
televisions for around £60. The company claim to have 48 hour call out.
West Yorkshire Police non emergency 0845 6060606
Crimestoppers 0800555111
Note: You can report a crime completely anonymously using the crimestoppers number.
With gold at over £600 an ounce in Oct 2009 and many people feeling the pinch, dozens of companies are encouraging us to turn our precious metals into cash. They advertise widely ask us to send our gold for the "Best" offer but these offeres are often disappointing.
First, jewellery is not pure gold (24-carat). Most jewellery is 9-carat gold which is 37.5% gold. The remainder is normally copper. Even 18-carat gold is only 75% gold and a sovereign is 22-carat, about 92% gold.
Second, clasps, chains, even some links in a "gold" necklace may be in other metals - only the gold will be worth anything
Third, when it comes to gold, an ounce is not an ounce. Everyday things are weighed in avoirdupois ounces (28.35grams) but precious metals are weighed in Troy ounces (31.1grams). The result is that a necklace and locket of 9-carat gold with a safety chain and clasp in steel, which weighs half an ounce on the kitchen scale, may contain less than 5grams of pure gold, or barely one-sixth of a troy ounce. Even at £600 an ounce that would be worth about £95. You would be lucky to get half that from a reputable dealer, as everyone has to have their cut as it is melted down and resold.
The other big problem is that the company you send your gold to may not even tell youwhat it is worth - the first you know will be a checque in the post or a credit to your bank account. By the time you have queried the amount, your necklace will probably have been melted down. Even if you get the chance to query the value, you may find you have to pay for postage and insurance for the gold to be returned to you.
Beware - you will probably be disapointed when you attempt to turn your gold jewellery into cash.
Using a Credit Card – Don’t leave your card face up on a counter or table. Mobile phones now have high resolution cameras and if they can take a video from nearby which records your card number as you enter it.
Don’t let people, such as waiters, take your card away; get them to swipe it in front of you. Always make sure people around you cannot see the card and whenever possible put your card in and take it out of the machine yourself. Assistants have been known to drop cards only to swip it on another machine on the floor which records your card details.
A NW family member has had someone set up a bogus Direct Debit on her bank account and take money from it.
How often do you check your account?
How long would it be before you found out?
Check you account regularly online, at your local branch or at an ATM
“Good Morning / afternoon. My name is ????? I am calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. Your card has flagged up for an unusual purchase.”
That’s how the call usually starts. At some point the ‘official’ from “VISA” will ask you for some details including your pin number or three figure security code on the back of your card. If you give it the call might start “Good…but it will end in tears. This is a well known con. Don’t give them any details at all, it will be very costly. The call may be slightly differently worded so beware and remember
The likelihood of becoming a fraud victim at a cash machine is very low and the following points will help keep your cards and cash safe:
|