Yetminster, Ryme Intrinseca & Hamlet

WARNING OF EMAIL AND TELEPHONE SCAMS

Scams are schemes to con you out of your money. They can arrive by post, phone call, text message or email or a scammer may turn up at your home.

It could be a scam if:

  • the call, letter, email or text has come out of the blue
  • you’ve never heard of the lottery or competition they are talking about and didn’t buy a ticket
  • you are asked to send money in advance
  • you are asked to give all or part of your bank details
  • you are asked to provide your account pin and password or part of either
  • you are told you have to respond quickly so don’t get time to think about it or talk to family and friends before you decide
  • you are told to keep it a secret.

Scam Protection Advice:

  • don’t engage with the fraudster, just hang-up the phone.
  • never give bank details over the phone.
  • Don’t be rushed; the fraudsters will deliberately rush you, so that you feel you need to give them information quickly, even if they say it is important, don’t give them any personal information.
  • If you want to give your bank a call after one of these phone calls, always use a different phone line to do so.

Bogus/Scam callers have a variety of sophisticated methods, including pretending to be police officers or banking advisors, to convince victims that they are legitimate. On many occasions they have persuaded people to transfer or hand over large sums of cash.

If you are the victim of a scam or wish to report a scam you can do so by contacting Action Fraud. Action Fraud is the UK’s national fraud and internet crime reporting centre provide a central point of contact for information about fraud and financially motivated internet crime. The easiest way to report fraud or internet crime is by using the Action Fraud online reporting

To contact Action Fraud call 0300 123 2040 or visit

http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ [2] to report a scam or fraud.

While Action Fraud is a reporting service, it also provides victims with advice and guidance on how to limit their chances of becoming a repeat victim of this type of crime.

Anyone with information about such scams can also call the Police on 101. Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 where mobile phone tariffs may apply.