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Protecting yourself from fraud and scams as we tackle rising prices
Prices are rising across several sectors including energy, fuel and food, therefore it’s more important now than ever to be on lookout for possible fraud and scams.
Criminals will be looking to entice you with great deals on energy prices, get rich schemes or may even pretend to be a family member looking for financial help during these difficult times. All pose a possible fraud and scam threat. The sections that follow will explain these types of fraud and scams in a little more detail.
Unexpected contact
Unexpected contact – via email, text message, telephone or by cold-calling at your door
Bad grammar and spelling
Communication with obvious spelling, grammar and/or format mistakes
Adverts
Pop up adverts, hyperlinks or approaches on social media offering schemes to make quick, easy money
How to protect yourself
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01
Your bank or the police will never ask you to transfer money to a safe account or ask for your full PIN, password or passcode.
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02
Always independently verify the person or service before making a payment to them.
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03
Never respond to unsolicited calls, texts, emails, or social media messages.
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04
Register for biometrics within the app as an extra level of security which helps to protect you against fraud.
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05
Shop securely online, using a credit or debit card. Remember to keep your cards in a safe place, and don’t give out your PIN to anyone.
It’s okay to say no. Only criminals will rush or panic you. Take a moment, contact someone you trust for advice, and check the details are genuine
Deals that sound too good to be true - they’re usually a scam
Be wary of urgent requests telling you to click on suspicious links or give remote access to your computer- it could be a scam
What to do if you get caught out
If you think you’ve been targeted by criminals, report it. Call the bank using the number on the back of your card, or from the numbers on our website. You can also dial 159 to be connected securely to your bank.