Fraud Awareness Talk: Key Takeaways to Keep You Safe

We recently hosted a Fraud Awareness Talk in collaboration with the police, aimed at educating our community on the latest scams and how to stay protected. The event was a great success, with insightful discussions on the tactics fraudsters use and practical advice on safeguarding ourselves and those around us.

What We Learned

During the session, the police shared critical insights on common fraud tactics, including:

Impersonation Scams: Fraudsters often pose as trusted authorities, such as bank representatives or police officers, to gain your trust and steal personal information.
Banking Scams: Scammers may call, email, or text claiming there is an issue with your account and urge you to transfer funds to a ‘safe account’—which does not exist.
Phone and Online Scams: Fraudsters use convincing phone calls, fake websites, and phishing emails to trick victims into providing sensitive details.
How to Spot Red Flags: Urgent requests for personal details, threats of immediate legal action, or too-good-to-be-true offers are all warning signs.

How to Check an Officer’s ID

The first thing you do is request for a warrant card. This will show their identity and there should be a holographic symbol at the back of the card.

If you’re unsure about whether the person you’re dealing with is a genuine police officer – stop – and call us on 101 to check their identity.

Please note, if you’ve been on the phone to someone – who called you – but you have doubts about them, we recommend that you hang up and wait five minutes before you call us. There have been cases of fraudsters keeping the line open after a victim has hung up. Leaving several minutes between calls will make sure that the call has closed.

You can see more information on this website.

How to Stay Safe

Verify Before You Act – If you receive a suspicious call or message, hang up and contact your bank or the police using official contact details.
Never Share Personal Information – Your bank or the police will never ask for your PIN, passwords, or to transfer money.
Report Suspicious Activity – If you or someone you know has been targeted, report it to Action Fraud at 0300 123 2040.
Stay Informed – Fraud tactics are constantly evolving, so staying aware of the latest scams is crucial.

Protecting Our Community

We’re committed to working with the police to spread awareness and keep our community safe from fraud. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion! If you missed the session, we encourage you to share this information with friends, family, and colleagues to help prevent fraud.

For more resources on fraud prevention, visit Action Fraud.

Stay vigilant and stay safe!

#FraudAwareness #CommunitySafety #StayVigilant #ActionFraud