Citizens Advice Scotland, Citizens Advice and Trading Standards Services are leading activities throughout the month of May in the fight-back against scammers – giving consumers the information, skills and confidence to spot and stop scams. This week, telephone fraud is under the spotlight with some examples to be on the look-out for below.
Telephone scams can take many different forms, but most have several things in common. Staying alert to these will help protect you from getting hooked in.
If the answer is YES to any of these questions, it could be a scam.
Is it:
• an uninvited message or phone call from a name or number you don’t recognise?
• tempting you with something for nothing – prizes or an easy way of making money?
One specific scam to watch out for is the ‘missed call’ scam.
Victims receive a missed call from a number beginning 070 or 076.
These numbers are used as they appear to be calls from a mobile phone number. However, when the victim tries to call the number back, the call is immediately dropped or an engaged tone is played and the victim is charged 50p for making the call.
If you receive a missed call from a number beginning 070 or 076 that you do not recognise, do not call it back.
Instead, make a note of the number and complain to the premium rate regulator, PhonepayPlus (Tel: 0800 500 212)
• tempting you with something that could change your life for the better?
• asking you to send money up-front or buy something up-front before you get the prize or offer?
• persuasive and rushing you into a quick decision?
• asking you to make expensive phone calls (premium rate numbers start with 090) to get the prize or offer?
• asking for your bank details or other personal information?
• using a mobile or PO box for its contact address? These are easy to close and difficult to trace and may be a sign that the company doesn’t exist or isn’t legitimate.
You can get online consumer advice and information at:
www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland.htm
or phone the Citizens Advice Consumer service 08454 04 05 06 for advice.
Check the Action Fraud alerts to common scams/frauds