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10/05/2023
Scam Warning As Over £1.2m Lost To Fraud In Just Two Months
More than £1.2 million has been lost to fraud in just the last two months, according to the PSNI.
In March, victims of scams lost almost £612,000, followed by losses close to £690,000 in April.
Chair of ScamwiseNI Partnership, Chief Superintendent Gerard Pollock said the staggering statistics illustrate how ruthless scammers are.
Chief Superintendent Pollock said: "Behind each loss, no matter the amount, is someone or a business owner who has been taken advantage of in the most despicable and callous way. For some, the impact is devastating."
In terms of the types of scams, Chief Superintendent Pollock said the scams we have seen have three common features, and these are the signs you should watch out for:
• Investment opportunities that seem too good to miss
• Most have involved cryptocurrency in some form
• Most have started with a small investment initially, before snowballing into thousands
• Like most scams now, they have been committed at distance, with criminals exploiting communication networks through phones, social media, emails or text messages
Chief Superintendent Pollock said: "Due to the advances in technology, criminals can now access people's banking and personal data. Anyone can be targeted by a scam, and criminals will constantly change how they present their scam to lure people in. We know, however, what all scammers aim to do is access personal and financial details.
"The end goal is to get your personal details, such as your name, address, date of birth and who you bank with for your loss and their gain. This can then be used to commit a more sophisticated scam where the losses can be substantial."
The best way to stop this scam is to apply these five important rules…
1) Never click on links in text messages from someone you do not know
2) Never call or text suspicious numbers back
3) Never ever transfer money to someone you do not know or have not met
4) Always delete texts requesting personal or financial information or bank account details
5) Always forward scam texts to 7726 – the free scam text reporting service
If you have been a victim of a scam, report it to police online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport or call on 101, to your bank immediately, online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.
Information and advice on investment fraud is also available on our website and www.nidirect.gov.uk/scamwiseni or the ScamwiseNI Facebook page @scamwiseni.
In March, victims of scams lost almost £612,000, followed by losses close to £690,000 in April.
Chair of ScamwiseNI Partnership, Chief Superintendent Gerard Pollock said the staggering statistics illustrate how ruthless scammers are.
Chief Superintendent Pollock said: "Behind each loss, no matter the amount, is someone or a business owner who has been taken advantage of in the most despicable and callous way. For some, the impact is devastating."
In terms of the types of scams, Chief Superintendent Pollock said the scams we have seen have three common features, and these are the signs you should watch out for:
• Investment opportunities that seem too good to miss
• Most have involved cryptocurrency in some form
• Most have started with a small investment initially, before snowballing into thousands
• Like most scams now, they have been committed at distance, with criminals exploiting communication networks through phones, social media, emails or text messages
Chief Superintendent Pollock said: "Due to the advances in technology, criminals can now access people's banking and personal data. Anyone can be targeted by a scam, and criminals will constantly change how they present their scam to lure people in. We know, however, what all scammers aim to do is access personal and financial details.
"The end goal is to get your personal details, such as your name, address, date of birth and who you bank with for your loss and their gain. This can then be used to commit a more sophisticated scam where the losses can be substantial."
The best way to stop this scam is to apply these five important rules…
1) Never click on links in text messages from someone you do not know
2) Never call or text suspicious numbers back
3) Never ever transfer money to someone you do not know or have not met
4) Always delete texts requesting personal or financial information or bank account details
5) Always forward scam texts to 7726 – the free scam text reporting service
If you have been a victim of a scam, report it to police online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport or call on 101, to your bank immediately, online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.
Information and advice on investment fraud is also available on our website and www.nidirect.gov.uk/scamwiseni or the ScamwiseNI Facebook page @scamwiseni.
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Scam Warning After NI Woman Loses £112,000
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
