Just because this month ends on a spooky note doesn’t mean your finances should scare you. Let us help you ensure this Halloween is more treat than trick with an update on some key scams to watch out for right now.
Unpaid parking ticket scams
Recently, many people have reported receiving text messages from scammers trying to con people into paying a fake parking ticket or penality charge notice (PCN). The scammers use a fake telephone number and send a malicious link to payment, scaring people into giving away their personal information by threatening legal action.
Remeber: local authorities and the police do not use text messages to inform people of parking fines or PCNs. A legitimate parking ticket will either end up on your windscreen (the yellow sticky pages you see from time to time!) or on the doormat via your local postie, if you're the registered keeper.
Fake QR code scams
QR codes, the black and white squares you scan with your phone camera, are now found all over the place. From printed advertising, to packaging, to restaurant menus - they offer a quick way to access more information or even pay for a meal without doing the universal gesture for 'can I have the bill please?'.
However, fraud using these little boxes is on the rise, and is sometimes known as 'quishing'. According to Action Fraud, most 'quishing' occurs in open spaces, often centred around paying for parking, with sneaky scammers putting fake QR code stickers over the top of the legitimate ones found on official signage or meters.
If you're worried about the legitimacy of a QR code, you can check whether it looks like it has been altered or tampered with. You can also pay for parking by Googling the company name and paying via the official website or app instead of scanning the QR code if you are concerned.
Authorised push payment (APP) fraud
According to UK Finance, cases of APP fraud have risen by more than 20% compared to the same period last year. APP often sees criminals attempting to fool people into making payments they believe to be legitimate. When the victim realises their mistake, they may have unwittingly provided enough information to be impersonated.
There are two main types of APP fraud:
- Malicious payee, where someone is tricked into purchasing goods or a service that doesn’t exist.
- Malicious re-direction, where a fraudster impersonates someone to get the victim to transfer money out of their bank account and into their own.
Elderly and vulnerable people can be particularly susceptible to this type of fraud, especially in cases where criminals impersonate officials like builders or solicitors.
Be wary of people asking you to transfer funds out of your savings into another account, especially via payment methods you wouldn’t usually expect and check legitimacy by phoning the organisation via their official customer service numbers and checking any changes to payment details.
Remember, a genuine organisation won’t mind waiting – only scammers will rush or pressure you into deciding.
Social media account scams
Social media scams can spread like wildfire across platforms and amongst friendship groups, as people are more likely to fall for something that has been unwittingly endorsed by someone they know.
Social media post scams often encourage people to click on a link to buy a product or view information on a third party website, but by doing so your personal information can be shared on. Doing this can also mean you accidentally share the link, sometimes with an added message, to your friends.
Make sure you look out for dodgy branding (profile pictures or names that don’t look quite right), suspicious-looking URLs and multiple instances of the exact same post. If you’re worried, always check with the company via official channels like their telephone number or customer service email address. Do not click any links you're unsure of.
Staying scam aware
For more information, check out our fraud and online security help area. You can also stay up-to-date with scam alerts via Action Fraud or Age UK.
If you are ever worried about your Newbury Building Society accounts, call us immediately on 01635 555700.