Good day to everyone receiving this alert. For those of you who are not aware Police Scotland Tayside Division will be providing a monthly update around the most common current scams in the Tayside area and how to avoid becoming a victim.
We will also release alerts if and when required, where we are sighted on any new or unusual scams and if we become aware of doorstep criminals or bogus workers operating in the Tayside area. Please take 5 minutes to read the information below and if you can, share with your friends or family and encourage them to sign up to the NHW alert scheme.
This is our first release and covers the most common scams reported in Tayside Division from 1st March 2021 to 20th April 2021.
1 – Redelivery scams – you may receive a push text (this is a text message you can’t reply to) or email allegedly from a well-known delivery/courier company which will have a link in it to “re-arrange delivery”. You will be asked to input your online details and pay a nominal fee using your bank/credit card. Although the website you have been taken to may look genuine, this is a scam.
How to avoid – NEVER CLICK ON A LINK in an email or text, even if you are expecting a delivery. Contact the organisation through their app or by phone. An email or text can be easily replicated to look genuine by a scammer.
2 – Impersonation scam – Usually a phone call allegedly from a government organisation such as HMRC or POLICE, where you will likely be threatened with arrest if you do not pay a sum of money immediately. During the call, the scammer may even claim to be a serving police officer. You may be asked to search online for a local police office contact phone number. The scammer will then call you back from that number to make the call appear genuine. The scammer’s telephone number will have been “spoofed” to add authenticity.
How to avoid – Regardless of who is allegedly calling, HANG UP AND CONTACT THE ORGANISATION USING A METHOD YOU TRUST, in the case of the police call 101 and ask the person you are connected with to verify the earlier call.
3- Bank Fraud Team calls – You may receive a call from “your bank” advising your money is at risk unless you move the money to a secure account, either online or in person at the bank. They will advise that staff at your branch are under investigation, not to tell them about the call and not to trust them.
How to avoid – HANG UP. Do not provide any information. Your bank would never contact you in this manner. If you attend at the bank, remember bank staff are highly trained to ascertain when someone is being scammed and are there to help you. They may then contact Police to assist you which is entirely appropriate.
If you have received a redelivery scam text or an email, the scammer will have some of your personal details and it is common for them to contact you again. At this point they may try an impersonation or bank fraud scam. If you have filled in details or paid the amount requested, contact your bank using a trusted method immediately. Remember scammers can spoof telephone numbers or email addresses when contacting you.
In summary remember these basic rules:
Stop
Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
Challenge
Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
Protect
Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Police Scotland.
For further information on how to become more aware of scams please search on the Police Scotland website for “TAKE 5” or if you would like more information on how to avoid being scammed, contact Police by email at taysidepreventionsandinterventions@scotland.pnn.police.uk
Message Sent By
Steven McKay (Police, Constable Acquisitive Crime, Tayside D Division)