There has recently been an influx of convincing scams circulating the UK and with the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) continuously progressing, so are the methods fraudsters use. It is important to stay alert and take preventative measures to help avoid these scams.

What can you do to avoid a scam?

• Treat all unexpected communications with caution.
• If a firm or your bank calls you unexpectedly and you are a customer of that company, use the contact details provided on official communications or their website to call them back.
• Look out for poor branding, spelling and grammar.
• Don’t click links in suspicious texts or emails.
• Use unique passwords for all of your online log ins and never share your password.
• Keep your passwords safe.
• Be wary of urgent deadlines and never rush into making a payment – legitimate organisations will never pressure you to action anything immediately.
• Beware of adverts on social media.
• Keep your virus protection software up to date.
• If you’re unsure about a financial services company, check the FCA register to ensure they are genuine and regulated.

 
 Who to report a scam to?

• Contact your bank straight away if you think you are a victim of a scam and report it to the Police or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
• You can also seek advice from Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.