Alexis Conran reveals the biggest scams out there right now
Whether it’s recruitment scams preying on vulnerable job seekers, or passport fraudsters threatening to ruin your holidays, if there’s one man with the know-how on how to spot a scammer, it’s Alexis Conran. He joins us to run down the biggest scams out there right now, and to share his advice on how you can stay alert and safe.
What scams should we be aware of?
Whether it's renewing your passport, or buying concert or festival tickets second hand, these are some of the scams we should be aware of:
The "Mum & Dad" scam - Posing as a distressed son or daughter and asking for financial aid through Whatsapp or text messaging.
The Passport renewal scam - Offering fake fast track passport renewals for a fee.
Ticket scam - Targeting people looking to attend an event. The tickets either won't turn up or will be fake and ineligible for a refund.
Recruitment scam - Contacting people who are looking for a job, claiming to be from an employment agency, or workplace, and offering you a job that doesn't exist.
Microsoft "Storage Full" scam - Sending Microsoft users emails that their storage is full and using links to steal money.
“Hi mum & dad” Whatsapp scams have now spread to text?
Action fraud revealed that 1,200 Brits have been conned out of more than £1.5 million to this scam, with fraudsters posing as distressed children to steal money from worried parents. The scammers goal is to make their victim feel sympathy and deceive them in the following ways:
The "child" is using a new phone or phone number because they have lost or damaged their own.
Explaining that they are in financial trouble and need to pay for a bill, service or even travel.
Creating a bogus excuse as to why they cannot talk over the phone and asking for money over text.
What are your tips for staying safe?
It's important to never send any money without verifying the sender's identity. You can ask personal questions which only the two of you would know, or contact other family members to ask if it's them on the other end of the line. The following steps should always be followed if you are still unsure:
Remain suspicious of unexpected messages asking for money, even if they come from someone you know.
Contact the family member using an alternative method, such as their known contact details.
Ask them personal questions, which only they would be able to answer. + Get a family safe word or phrase, which you can use to verify their identity.
Scammers are offering fast track passport renewals?
Industrial strike action in UK passport offices will last until the 5th of May, and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) have issued a warning about fake fast track passport renewals and "too good to be true" holiday deals. As a standard passport application can take up to ten weeks to process, fraudsters are preying on desperate travellers who need new passports in time for this summer by sending emails or text messages promising speedy fast track services.
What steps can you take to avoid the scam?
These fraudsters are taking advantage of a rare opportunity, but it's as important as ever to do your research and follow a couple of simple steps if you are ever in doubt:
Use only the official government website to renew your passport.
Check the URL and security of any website.
People should also be aware of ticket fraud?
Major events such as music, theatre and sports can sell out tickets in minutes, leaving many fans looking for alternatives. Fraudsters will set up fake websites, social media profiles or emails offering tickets. The websites may look genuine, and even similar to trusted retailers. Some may advertise tickets for events that haven't officially gone on sale. Ticket scams have reached a record high, jumping 529% between February and March 2023 and an average loss of £110 per customer. Unfortunately, you have been the victim of a scam if:
You pay for the tickets but they aren't delivered.
You are told that a customer representative will meet you at the venue but they don't show up.
You receive a printed ticket or e-ticket in the post, which is rejected at the venue as it is fake.
What can we do to prevent ticket trauma?
This type of scam is a form of phishing, and fraudsters will take advantage of the demand for an event by targeting dedicated and passionate fans, or people who have simply missed out on general sale. We can protect ourselves in the following ways:
Only buy tickets from the venue's box office, the promoter or trusted ticket exchange site.
Use a secure payment site, such as PayPal, if you are purchasing from an individual.
Pay for your tickets with a credit card, as this offers increased protection over any other payment method
Even jobseekers are vulnerable to scams?
Recruitment scams can happen to people who are looking for a job and are contacted by a fraudster claiming to be from an employer or recruitment agency. They may ask you to fill in an application or questionnaire, provide information over the phone or refer you to the company's website before offering you the job that doesn't exist. After that comes the following arrangements:
You will be asked to pay general fees for enrolment or DBS checks.
You will be asked to contribute towards travel and accommodation if the job is
You will be asked to contribute towards travel and accommodation if the job is abroad.
Your bank details will be requested to set up salary payments.
How can vulnerable jobseekers protect themselves?
Sadly, the arrangements promised to hopeful jobseekers are all tactics to steal money from your account. It's important to be aware of these telltale signs and act accordingly:
+ Check for poor spelling or grammar, as fraudsters are likely to make minor errors.
Check the webmail email address, as fraudulent emails could be @Yahoo or @Hotmail.
Cross reference details with an embassy of the country that you believe the job is associated with - for example, visa costs.
Tell the employer that you will make your own travel arrangements, and beware if they urge you to make these arrangements through their agency.
Stop all communication with the 'agency', and report their details.
Scammers are targeting Microsoft users with 'storage full' emails?
Microsoft users have been receiving emails warning them that their OneDrive (where people store files, photos and apps in a cloud based system) storage is full. The fraudsters sending these emails are want to trick customers into entering their bank details using these tactics:
Explaining that you can get up to 50GB of additional storage as part of their loyalty program.
Threatening that your files will be deleted if you do not act quickly.
Collecting your bank details and personal data that can also be used by other fraudsters in the future.
Emails may come from a random email address that clearly has nothing to do with Microsoft.
How can you tell between a fake and genuine email?
Although Microsoft does send out genuine emails alerting you that you're reaching your storage limit, there are important differences between those emails and one sent by a fraudster. A genuine Microsoft email will include:
An official and trusted email address - microsoft @mail.onedrive.com
An overview of how much storage you have left and a link to subscribe to get more storage.
Attachments of large files that you are prompted to delete yourself.
A link to your own account where you can manage your own storage space.