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Scams and rogue traders

Scams and rogue traders

Community lifeline: SCAM ALERT! 

We have been made aware of a recent scam involving a customer of our Lifeline service.

A company called our Lifeline customer advising them that their current plan is being discontinued, and that they need to set up a new account and re-provide Direct Debit bank details. They were advised the new lifeline will be waterproof, allowing them to wear it outside. They were then advised someone will be out to set up the new device in a couple of days, which did not happen.

Within a week or so the Direct Debit was taken, but at a much higher value than discussed.

If you have any concerns or have received similar calls, please contact us to check if the call is legitimate. Do not give out any personal details before checking with us.

This can be done by calling 01954 713 470 or 01954 713 370 or emailing lifelines@scambs.gov.uk

About scams

Scams trick people into giving away their money and personal information. They scare them or offer fake promises of money, prizes, or services. Sometimes, they claim you'll make a lot of money from an investment, but it's not real. 

When someone falls victim to fraud, they might lose a lot of money or just a little. But the real damage is often emotional. Fraud can strain family ties and even lead to breakdowns. If someone gets defrauded at home, they're 2.5 times more likely to either die or need care within a year.  

Scams happen in different ways

  • through the mail (for example fake prize draws or lotteries)
  • online (for example spoof emails or copycat websites)
  • over the phone (for example fake investment offers or calls claiming to be from your bank)
  • at your doorstep - called rogue trading

The Little Book of Big Scams gives information on different types of scams and ways to protect yourself. You can sign up to them to get regular updates.

Here are some simple tips to avoid scams:

Mail Scams

  • if you haven’t been to Australia, for example, and bought a lottery ticket then you can’t have won the Australian lottery
  • if you had really won a huge cash prize you would not need to be charged a fee to claim it
  • bogus clairvoyants and spiritual guides create the idea they know you by using your first name a lot in their letters and typefaces that look like handwriting
  • if you receive any scam mail then return it to sender or send to Freepost Scam Mail.

Internet Scams

  • beware of e-mails that state they are from your bank or building society. These may ask you to click a link to verify your details, called phishing. Genuine e-mails from your bank will not ask for account details
  • when making online purchases, look for a padlock symbol and https in the address bar (the ‘s’ means the site is secure)
  • beware of copycat websites looking like they are an official government department and suchlike. Make sure to navigate through different routes to check it’s a genuine government website

Telephone Scams

  • genuine bank staff or police officers will never ask you for personal PINs/passwords. They won't send a courier to collect bank cards or cash
  • if you receive a phone call requesting any of the above information, hang up. Wait five minutes or use a different phone to contact the police or a friend or relative
  • to check if a caller is a genuine police officer/PCSO, ask for details before hanging up. These include their name, collar number and Police force. Call 101 – the non-emergency police number- and ask to be put through to the officer
  • don’t trust brokers who cold-call offering investment opportunities. Contact an independent financial adviser if you want to invest some of your savings

Door Step Scams

  • beware of callers to your door claiming to be from a utility company, police, the council and suchlike. Ask to see their ID. Check with the organisation they claim to be from that they are genuine. Avoid using the number they give you or that appears on the ID as this could be bogus. A genuine caller will not mind waiting for you to verify their identity
  • beware of cold callers to your door offering home improvement works. They may claim they work nearby to earn your trust. Or, they may offer to do some work for you because they have some materials left over from a job nearby so they can offer you a great deal
  • never give money up front for work. A genuine trader will not ask for this
  • if you would like to use a tradesperson, always get 3 quotes and a detailed breakdown of what will be done. You can find Trading Standards-approved traders on their website or call 03454040506
  • a rogue trader is someone who takes money for a job but either doesn't do it or does it very poorly. They may ask for more money than agreed, and the cost can keep going up as they make up more issues that apparently need fixing
  • dial 999 if a rogue trader is at your or a neighbour’s property. Otherwise, use the non-emergency number 101to report it to the police

The key message for all the above is ‘if it sounds too good to be true it probably is’.

How you can help

Contact Action Fraud on 03001232040 to report any type of scam.

You can report phishing to the bank whose brand/identity is being copied. Visit their website to find out the e-mail address to forward phishing e-mails.

For more information or advice contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline 03454 04 05 06.

You or your community group can help make a difference in your area by joining CAPASP (Cambridgeshire And Peterborough Against Scams Partnership)  to get and share the latest updates.

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