N T S S C A M A L E R T
March 2025
Phishing Scams
Debt scams warning: what do to if you get a debt demand
A letter, call, email, text or doorstep visit demanding debt payment can be an alarming and confusing experience – particularly if it comes out of the blue. If you don’t recognise the debt, you need to be wary and verify the request before paying up, as not all such demands are genuine.
In one recent case highlighted by BBC Radio 4’s ‘You and Yours’, a victim was coerced into paying a criminal who’d phoned him posing as a bailiff and threatening to seize his furniture. Which? regularly hears from people being chased for unrecognised debts. This can sometimes be as a result of identity fraud – where debts have been racked up without the victim’s knowledge. more
Criminals impersonate well-known brands to link your card details to their own digital wallets
International organised crime groups impersonating well-known brands and retailers are attempting to steal your card information, warns Cifas, the Cyber Defence Alliance and UK Finance.
These scams typically begin as texts, such as those offering to help with your bills or telling you about a parking charge, or as social media ads boasting tempting offers or closing down sales. They lead to malicious websites which ask for your card details. more
Criminals use a verified WhatsApp account to carry out new delivery scam
A WhatsApp message from a compromised verified business account tells you that your delivery has ‘failed’ and includes a link to a copycat Evri website.
Criminals have long taken advantage of potential victims awaiting online orders by posing as delivery companies and leading them to dodgy websites. Some scams can be easy to spot, others can be more challenging. more
Telephone Scams
Deepfake scam calls are costing British victims hundreds each time – here’s how to stay safe
AI deepfake fraud calls are dominating the scam landscape, and are costing British consumers millions of pounds.
A new report from Hiya has detailed the rising risk and deepfake voice scams in the UK and abroad, noting how the rise of generative AI means deepfakes are more convincing than ever, and attackers can leverage them more frequently too – even going as far as to target businesses and C-suite executives, making deepfakes one of 2024’s biggest cybersecurity dangers. more
‘Vital’ energy bills scam warning as fraudsters use this trick to access bank accounts
Britons are urged to be vigilant as a new “sophisticated” energy bill support scam circulates. Criminals are promising to help reduce bills but instead use victims’ card details to set up digital wallets. The Cyber Defence Alliance, UK Finance, and Cifas have joined forces to warn the public about this new mobile phone scam, which is reportedly linked to international crime groups.
Criminals are luring people with fake offers on social media and deceptive text messages containing malicious links. These messages often appear to offer help, such as reducing winter heating bills by applying for a living allowance or notifying you about an undelivered parcel. more
Police phone call scams reported in Derbyshire
Calls from fake police officers have been reported around the county. This is a scam where the caller claims to be a police officer, giving names such as DC John Marston, DC James Madison, DC Mark Reilly or DC Martin Johnston. They say they’re investigating unauthorised use of the person’s bank card and advises them to keep the call secret – a key tactic in fraud.
If you receive a call like this, never give out any person information and hang up the call immediately. This type of call is linked to courier fraud, where victims are encouraged to withdraw cash and give the money or bank cards to a courier who has been arranged by the ‘police officer’ to assist with the investigation. In some cases, the victim has been told to withdraw this in euros from a currency exchange kiosk. more
Online scams
Cryptocurrency fraud warning after people living in south of England lose £1m in scam
Residents have been urged by police to stay alert following a spate of cryptocurrency scams that saw nine individuals having a total of £1m stolen.
According to police, the victims’ personal information was leaked online and subsequently used to create “fake Action Fraud reports”. Action Fraud serves as the UK’s national centre for reporting fraud and cybercrime. The victims were contacted by an individual posing as a police officer who assured them that an investigation was underway. more
Britons warned of surge in ‘shameful’ property scam cases costing victims thousands
Cases of criminals scheming Britons out of cash for fake rental properties have surged in the past year, costing unwitting victims thousands of pounds. Rental fraudsters typically target their victims by offering access to properties that do not exist or that are not theirs to rent. They often use fake details and photos and offer prices well below the market rate.
The criminals often demand a deposit or the first month’s rent to secure the property or even arrange a viewing. Many people desperate to find a home will pay up-front to avoid missing out. The criminal then disappears with their cash. more
Warning over fake online ‘shops’ that will drain your bank account – and what to look out for
Online scams are rife, because it’s so easy these days to set up what appears to be a legitimate online shop. It’s harder than ever to spot a scam until it’s too late, and the item you ordered never arrives.
While it can be difficult to get your money back, it’s not impossible. Here’s how to spot an online scam and how to get a refund even if the retailer has shut down and scarpered without a trace. more
Cruise ship passengers issued warning over one new scam
Cruise ship passengers have been warned about a new scam targeting those who take part in the popular tradition of hiding and finding rubber ducks on board. The cruise duck trend, where passengers hide small rubber ducks around the ship for others to find, has become a beloved pastime for many travellers. However, criminals are now exploiting its popularity.In a video about cruise scams and tricks to look out for this year, creator Tips For Travellers said: “Wherever something’s popular, criminals move in.
“I am seeing scammers posting on social media, often in Facebook cruise and roll call groups posting pictures of ducks of all types, including some seemingly homemade, lamenting how either the cruise they were planning to take them on got cancelled or they can no longer go. more