These scams involve a text message or email claiming to be from a parcel delivery company. The message will state that a parcel delivery was unsuccessful or that the postage paid was insufficient, and that you need to pay a fee to receive the package. A link will be provided to input payment details and that link is designed to steal your bank or card information.

In some cases, this scam involves a high fee being taken using your payment details. In others, a phone call may follow, claiming to be from your bank. They’ll tell you that your payment details were provided to a fraudulent web link and that you need to transfer your money to a “safe account”. They may also try to gain access to your computer to access your security information and move your money themselves.

• A parcel delivery company wouldn’t text or email you to ask you to pay a fee online, so don’t click on any links inviting or instructing you to do so
• Never provide your personal or financial details over the phone unless you have made the call and the phone number is recognised as a trusted source. If you receive a call like those mentioned above, hang up straight away

While the end of the pandemic has seen falls in some types of fraud, the cost-of-living crisis continues to provide fertile ground for fraudsters. Scammers are posing as a trusted organisation such as a bank, law enforcement agency, government agency or health service provider. They’re sending emails and texts designed to trick you into giving them sensitive personal and financial information. Some examples are fake texts from HMRC offering money as a goodwill payment, emails stating you’re eligible for a tax refund and texts threatening fines linked to coronavirus.

• If you receive any emails or texts about refunds, grants, rebates, financial support or fines, don’t click on the link in the message. Open your browser and go to the official government website, GOV.UK.
• Your bank, a trusted organisation or a government department will never ask you to disclose sensitive personal information, such as online banking details or passwords

You’ll be contacted by someone claiming to be from a trusted organisation such as your bank (typically the fraud team) or the police, who’ll tell you that your account has been compromised in some way and that you need to move your money to a “safe account”. The details they’ll give you will be fraudulent and once you move your money they’ll have access to it.

• Your bank or the police will never ask you to move money to a “safe account” or send someone to your home to collect cash, cards or cheque books if you are a victim of fraud
• If you’re ever suspicious about any contact, always call the organisation back on a number you can trust (e.g. as detailed on your account statement)

Unfortunately bereaved families are being targeted by a new scam, where fraudsters steal the identities of legitimate firms and demand money from the estates of people who have died. Fraudsters are sending letters to grieving family members as they tie up loose ends such as paying outstanding bills, dividing up possessions and signing official paperwork. The letters typically request the payments of relatively small amounts of several hundreds of pounds so the demands seem more reasonable and have more chance of duping unsuspecting victims. 

• If you’ve lost a loved one and are being asked to pay their debts, check that the debt is genuine
• When you’re making a payment, always check the details with the person or business you’re paying, via an independently verified source, before you send any money

Remote access usually occurs via a cold-call from a fraudster advising that your computer has been compromised by a malicious virus which could leave your sensitive details at risk of compromise.

The fraudsters aim is to gain the ability to control your computer by persuading you to give them access. They do this from a distance, so could be anywhere in the world.

You'll receive a call out of the blue from a caller claiming to be from a technical support provider, a large telecommunications or computer company. They'll inform you that your computer is experiencing problems, and they need to access remotely to fix the issue.

Usually, the fraudster will request that you purchase specialist software by providing your personal details and your bank or credit card details, or they may ask you to purchase gift cards such as Apple, Xbox etc in order to pay for support.

Push payment fraud is a scam where fraudsters convince you to transfer money to them.

The fraudsters may pose as a legitimate business or individual who is known to you, typically via email, to inform you that their bank account details have changed and to make a payment to the new account.

The fraudsters may have intercepted emails and therefore have information to make them appear convincing, such as information about who you are due to make payment to.

What to look out for

• Be wary of unexpected emails from a business or individual letting you know that their payment details have changed
• Don’t make any payments without checking via an independently verified source that the payment details you have are correct

Investment scams occur when you get a cold call from someone pretending to offer you the opportunity to invest in a variety of schemes or products that are either worthless or don’t even exist. Fraudsters will pose as salespeople offering opportunities in shares, plots of land, gold or wine.

When offering opportunities, fraudsters will sometimes use publicly available information to impersonate genuine companies and employees.

Fraudsters will apply pressure, saying the opportunity is only available for a limited period, downplaying the risks and suggesting you can sell if the investment is unsuccessful.

The introduction of cryptocurrencies has also given fraudsters the opportunity for further scams. Fraudulent firms can manipulate software to distort prices and investment returns. They may scam people into buying non-existent crypto assets. They are also known to suddenly close online accounts and refuse to transfer funds or ask for more money before the funds can be transferred.

Crypto asset fraudsters tend to advertise on social media – often using the images of celebrities or well-known individuals to promote cryptocurrency investments. The ads then link to professional-looking websites. Consumers are then persuaded to make investments with the firm using cryptocurrencies or traditional currencies. The firms operating the scams are usually based outside the UK but will claim to have a UK presence, often a prestigious City of London address.

Pension scammers promise to convert pension funds into cash before retirement, or in some cases may suggest individuals can take more than 25% of their pension pot as cash. You could be offered a free pension review, then told you can take cash from your pension even though you’re under 55. This may be called a ‘loan’, ‘saving advance’ or ‘cashback’.

Your pension funds will be transferred from your legitimate pension scheme into one set up by the scam. This new scheme is often based abroad. You may be ‘loaned’ an amount (often around half of your pension) with the company involved taking a fee, often as much as 30%. This fee is often unclear and doesn’t include the tax, potentially as high as 55%, you will owe for accessing your pension early. Any money remaining in the scheme after fees and tax are paid will then be invested in high-risk products or projects like overseas property developments – or it’s sometimes simply stolen outright.

In addition, you could face a tax bill of up to 55%, plus other charges on any funds you withdraw – in addition to the risk that you could also lose all your money. You will have to pay tax even if:

• you didn’t realise you had broken the tax rules
• you offer to put the money back in your pension
• you have paid fees or charges to the company involved
• you have spent all the money

Fraudsters also exploit the pension liberation process by not disclosing tax implications or receiving cash from a pension, failing to advise of the full extent of fees to be paid in relation to any onward investment, and falsely representing anticipated levels of returns when investments are either non-existent or incapable of providing such a return.

What to look out for

Pension scammers will often approach you out of the blue by phone or text message, or in person by ‘door to door’ selling. They can also make contact by email, post, word of mouth or at a seminar or exhibition. They’ll offer a free pension review, or try to lure you in with so-called ‘one-off’ investment opportunities or upfront cash.

• If you are cold called about your pension – just hang up!
• Check the credentials of the company and advisers; they should be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority
• Speak to an adviser that is not associated with the deal you’ve been offered, for unbiased advice
• Never be rushed into agreeing to a pension transfer