Fraud is now the most commonly experienced crime in England and Wales, according to the Crown Prosecution Service, with millions of incidents reported each year. And as scammers turn to AI and increasingly convincing impersonation techniques, spotting a scam isn’t always as easy as looking for a suspicious spelling mistake.
The good news is that a few simple habits can make a big difference. Stop, Challenge, Protect is a useful approach to remember whenever you’re contacted unexpectedly. (Source: TakeFive)
What scams should you look out for?
- AI voice cloning is an emerging tactic where criminals use a short recording of someone’s voice to create a convincing imitation. You might receive a call that appears to be from a family member, friend or colleague asking for urgent financial help.
- Fake text messages, sometimes known as smishing, can look remarkably genuine. Messages may claim you’ve missed a parking payment, have a parcel waiting or are entitled to an energy refund, often directing you to a link designed to steal personal or financial information.
- Impersonation scams can also involve callers pretending to represent your bank, HMRC or another official organisation. Don’t trust the number on your screen alone. Fraudsters can manipulate caller ID to make a call appear to come from a bank or another organisation you recognise.
- There are also subscription scams and traps, where apparently free trials or services can result in unexpected recurring payments.
Remember: Stop, Challenge, Protect
Stop: If someone is pushing you to make a payment or reveal information immediately, take a breath. A genuine organisation won’t mind you taking time to check.
Challenge: Ask yourself whether the request makes sense. Be particularly cautious if someone creates a sense of urgency or asks for information you wouldn’t normally provide.
Protect: If you’re unsure, end the conversation and contact the organisation using a trusted number, for example, the number on the back of your bank card or an official statement. Don’t use a number or link provided in a suspicious message.
What should you do if you think you’ve been scammed?
If you receive a suspicious text, you can forward it to 7726 free of charge. Suspicious emails can be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk.
If you’ve lost money or been the victim of fraud, report it through the UK’s official fraud reporting service. If you’ve shared your banking details, contact your bank immediately using a trusted number.
Most importantly, don’t be embarrassed about falling for a scam. Fraudsters deliberately make their messages convincing and create pressure to stop you thinking clearly.
If you’re ever unsure about a financial request or message relating to your mortgage or finances, we’re always happy to help you sense-check it. Get in touch, it’s better to ask than to risk getting caught out.
