Weekly Fraud Update - West Mercia Police 19/09/23

West Mercia Police operates a messaging system called Neighbourhood Matters which enables residents, businesses and community groups to keep in touch with local policing teams. Anyone can sign up to this service at Home Page - Neighbourhood Matters but certain alerts will be posted here on the website.

WEEKLY FRAUD UPDATE FROM WEST MERCIA POLICE - ECONOMIC CRIME UNIT - 19/09/2023

MOBILE PHONE SCAMS

Mobile phone fraud comes in various guises which may trick you into buying phone products or services that are often sub-standard or non-existent, or direct you to make calls or texts to high cost premium phoneline services, or even sign up unknowingly to subscription services.

These are some of the commonest ones:
• MISSED CALL SCAM – you see a missed call but do not recognise it. But if you call it back, whilst it may be genuine, you may also have been redirected to an expensive Premium Rate line
• RECORDED MESSAGE SCAM – the number you are asked to call back may be a recorded message saying you have won a prize and ring back on a second number. However this may also be a Premium Rate number and probably the “prize” is worthless anyway
• TEXT MESSAGE SCAMS – you receive a text from an unrecognised number but sounds like it is from a friend. If you respond to it you may well be connected to a Premium Rate line again.
• RING TONE SCAMS – Scammers may offer you “free” or low-cost Ring Tones, but you are probably subscribing to a service that keeps on sending you fresh Ring Tones, and often at Premium Rates.
• PHONE INSURANCE SCAMS – Fraudsters are known to contact mobile phone users offering phone insurance, claiming to be from the business you bought the phone from or your network provider. You may well find your House Contents insurance already covers you for your phone anyway.

IF you have been a victim of mobile phone fraud, then :
• Inform your mobile phone provider
• Contact PhonepayPlus ( www.phonepayplus.org.uk) who regulate premium numbers
• By texting the word STOP to the subscription number, the sender is legally obliged to stop sending any text messages. If they do not, then again contact PhonepayPlus.

Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives or neighbours.

Take Five to Stop Fraud
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 Action Fraud

ALWAYS REMEMBER:
• Avoid disclosing security details
• Emails, Phone Calls and Texts may not be authentic
• Always make direct contact with any organisation by using a genuine phone number
• Stop and Challenge any unexpected requests
• Protect others by reporting Fraud and Scams
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If you’ve fallen for a scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk

Scam Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take early action and block numbers that generate spam on their networks.

Forward Fake Emails received to [email protected]