Think Before You Click

There are a number of scams doing the rounds at the moment, and they are becoming ever more convincing and complex, using multiple techniques to build a profile of you.

Antivirus software can not protect you against these, only your awareness and constant alertness will help.

As always, please do THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK on everything. Ask “Do I know the person who made this message/post” If you don’t, don’t forward the post regardless of how emotive it is.

Mark Zuckerberg invented BFF

Have you seen the post claiming Mark Zuckerberg invented the word BFF to check if your account had been hacked?

Don’t you think it’s a bit odd that rather than alert you immediately by email or have a link in the Security settings pages, such an obscure method was chosen?

Typing BFF into your status will turn it green, it’s one of the few key words that Facebook recognises, much like typing congratulations will turn orange. But that’s all there is to it.

So put an end to this fake post and don’t reshare it if one of your friends do.

Post this status for 1 hour

This is not going to let your friends know who really is your friend, it’s a well known ‘like bait’ type of post that’s encouraging people to share a post and get more likes for it. Social media like Facebook see posts that get a lot of likes and shares as a popular poster (regardless of the poster/content) so helping the original poster get a higher ranking.

Our advice is to just not re-post the messages. You already know who your friends are, you don’t need feedback from Facebook to confirm that.

HMRC

HMRC is a prime target for scammers, using official looking emails, phone calls, texts and posts often demanding urgent action.

As with all HMRC scams, if you get any message claiming to be from HMRC, you should confirm it first before acting on it.

• If you can get on a computer, the HMRC can be contacted here: HMRC Scan Website
• You can forward scam text messages to: 60599
• You can email HMRC on: phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

HMRC & iTunes Scam

HMRC have released specific advice about a scam where vulnerable and elderly people are contacted via phone call and told they owe large sums of outstanding tax that they need to replay using iTunes vouchers (sometimes other vouchers are substituted such as Amazon)

the victim is told to go to a shop and buy the vouchers, then call the scammers back and read out the voucher code.

HMRC have asked UK retailers to be aware of possible victims and to offer help to them as a line of defense of such scams. If you let your relatives know of this type of scam, and tell them if they receive such a phone call to immediately hang up on the caller.

Action Fraud state that there have been over 1,500 reports of this scam since 2016.The vast majority of the victims are aged over 65 and suffered an average financial loss of £1,150 each. Despite campaigns by HMRC and law enforcement agencies people are still falling victim to the scam, with the highest ever loss being reported last week of an 81 year old man losing £20,000 after being repeatedly targeted by the fraudsters.

Details of the scam from HMRC: HMRC Press Release

Dating Fraud

According to a recent report, £41 million was lost to online dating fraudsters in 2017, with the average victim loosing £11,500. Nearly half of the victims reported the fraud had a significant impact on their health or wellbeing, and 18% reported they were at very serious risk of bankruptcy as a result of the fraud.

3,557 dating frauds were reported in 2017, 63% of those reporting the scam were woman, and 25% were in their 50s, 22% in their 40s only 13% were under 30.

“These callous criminals will target vulnerable victims for their own monetary gain and our latest intelligence tells us that women in their forties are the most likely to be tricked in this way. We are therefore urging people to spot the signs of dating fraud in order to protect themselves and to follow the ‘Date Safe’ advice this Valentine’s Day and in the future.”

The most common method of fraud was via a fake online profile being used to start a relationship with a victim. Once trust was formed the fraudster would coax the victim to hand over personal information or cash, either though a series of invented mishaps that the fake profile suffers, often not asking for financial help, but waiting for it to be offered. The other popular method was to swap intimate photos with the victim, then blackmail them into giving up the information or cash.

Police believe the true figure of romance fraud is much higher, as many go unreported due to embarrassment on the part of the victim, fear of blackmail or because it would compromise the victims family or existing relationships.

If you become a victim of dating fraud, report it immediately to @actionfrauduk and the dating site where you met, however embarrassing you might think it is. Don’t worry, unfortunately they’ve heard it all before #safedatinghttps://t.co/VQepFZpnpcpic.twitter.com/CoLBGoc6QJ

GetSafeOnline.org (@GetSafeOnline) February 9, 2018

The advice is to report any attempted scam or blackmail, even if you think it might be embarrassing, to the poliec. Other tips include talking to your friends and family about your dates, meet in a public place and be wary of anyone who tells you not to tell others about them.

“Lots of happy relationships are built as a result of meeting someone online. However, as in any form of dating, there are some nasty characters out there who will try and take advantage of someone looking for love.”

Tony Neate, chief executive of Get Safe Online

More Details: Report

Holiday Hijinks?

The Scotsman have a great article to read before you go and book a summer holiday, go and read it here: The Scotsman