Whilst the world of the Internet offers great opportunities for young and old alike, it also presents many risks. Last week we looked at keeping younger people safe online, but older people are equally, if not more, susceptible to Fraud. A recent crime survey stated that more than a fifth of respondents aged 65 years and over had been a victim of fraud in the last year.

Older victims of fraud may also become more secretive about what has happened, because of the feelings of shame and guilt they have through falling to the fraudsters.

So why not sit down and have a chat with older family members, friends, or neighbours about staying safe online, on the phone and even on the doorstep?

Talk to them about the types of Fraud to watch out for, and how they can protect themselves.

TYPES OF FRAUD

As technology becomes more sophisticated, so do the techniques used by criminals and this has been exacerbated by the development of Artificial intelligence – A.I.

They now use a wide variety of methods to trick people, the most frequent are listed below:

IMPERSONATION FRAUD

Criminals are experts at impersonating trusted organisations, including banks, the police, and government departments such as HMRC and DVLC, to convince you to make a payment, or share your personal and financial detail.

INVESTMENT FRAUD

There are numerous paid adverts or comparison sites claiming to be legitimate firms offering guaranteed returns with minimal risk. You may be asked to complete a “Contact Form” with your personal details for a Call-Back.

The use of genuine company logos, celebrity endorsements and testimonials may often be fake.

PURCHASE FRAUD

It can be easy to fall for a purchase scam. Criminals advertise goods/services at “too good to be true” prices often via social media or auction sites to trick people into purchasing something that does not exist. They often use images taken from genuine sellers to convince you they are the real deal. They may also ask for payment prior to delivery and send fake receipts and invoices that seem to be from the payment provider.

Where possible pay by Credit Card which offers you a level of protection in reclaiming payments if things go wrong.

ROMANCE FRAUD

The ease of online dating services often means you can find the love of your life in the comfort of your own home. However, this also provides criminals with an opportunity to gain your trust and build a relationship with you by using information and fake identities found on social media – also known as catfishing. Criminals will claim to declare strong feelings for you just after a few conversations before pretending to need money for a personal emergency or flights to visit you.

So be wary about the type of personal information you add to your social media profile, as criminals can “harvest” those details to create a compatible profile online which makes you feel safe to engage with them.

COURIER FRAUD

If you’re contacted by someone purporting to be from your bank or the police, take a moment to question their authenticity. If the caller is from the bank, they may claim that their system has spotted a fraudulent payment on your card or that it is due to expire and needs to be replaced.

They may even confirm personal details about you, such as your full name and address and offer you peace of mind by having someone such as a courier collect your card to save you from having to go to your bank or local police station. You may even be asked to write down your PIN and place it in a separate envelope to that of your card.

Banks will never ask you for personal details over the phone.

DOORSTEP FRAUD

Doorstep criminals can come in all sorts of disguises, from dodgy salesmen to unscrupulous tradespeople and, can be very convincing. They may claim to have noticed something about your property that needs work or improvement, such as the roof, and offer to fix it for a price which rapidly increases as the job progresses with payment required upfront. Some criminals may even convince you to visit your bank branch to withdraw money whilst they set up their equipment.

Always request a written quotation on headed notepaper and never make upfront payments.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST FRAUD

If you receive a request to provide personal or financial information whether that’s over the phone, in an email, online or through social media always remember:

Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations, and the police. They spend hours researching you for their fraudulent schemes, hoping you will let your guard down for just a moment.
Stop and think for 5 minutes - It could protect you and your money.
If you are unsure, then talk to a trusted relative or friend
Avoid making payments by Bitcoins or Gift Cards if asked
Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives, or neighbours