CSN logo csngwynedd.org Map of Wales
 
Gwefan Cymraeg CSN Gwynedd Welcome to CSN Gwynedd CSN Gwynedd News About CSN Gwynedd Advice from CSN Gwynedd CSN Gwynedd Information Let us know your views
 
 

 TODAY'S TOP STORY:  - Conmen pair stole from elderly...more
Consumer Survey...more  

 
Members:
   

Member's Logos Link to Gwynedd Council's website Link to GISDA website Link to the CAB website Link to the Age Concern website Link to Canolfan Felin Fach Website

NEWS
Current Top 10 Scams

Below are at present the Top 10 most complained about scams:

1. E-mail warning
scams claiming to be from your bank and asking for your account details. It’s not from your bank and once they have full access, they will take your money.
2. An e-mail or letter from abroad
Apparently sent by a 15 year old boy whose father has just died. It asks for account details to launder some ill-gotten gains. Once you give your account details they will take all your money.
3. Competition prize draw
says you’ve won a prize and shows a prize allocation number. The latest ones have a premium rate telephone number and you than have to send money to process your claim. Needless to say, what you receive is worthless to most people.
4. Telephone call from Canada
Telling you that you have won the national lottery and they want money to process your claim. They take the money from you a bit at the time. 2 older British people ended up paying over £60,000 before they realised it must be a scam.
5. Internet scams (Trojan diallers)
A rogue dialler diverts your telephone line from your usual Internet provider to a premium rate telephone line – usually through pop-up boxes. It diverts your telephone line to countries like Africa and Norfolk Island in the South Pacific and can cost you hundreds.
6. Pyramid schemes (often aimed at women only)
You are asked to send money to names on a list, drop one name off and add your name to the list and sit back and watch the money roll in! Or not!
7. Bogus credit card fraud checks
You get a call from someone who says they are from your card’s fraud Department. Just checking that particular transactions are yours – you end up giving them information and they order stuff in your name.
8. Data protection registration
For your business, asking for £95. Most businesses don’t need to register and you can do it direct for £35. The same people are now offering Health and Safety compliance packs – this time asking for over £200. You can get the pack yourself for £10.
9. Domain names
Aimed at small businesses. Claiming your right to certain names on the Internet is in jeopardy. You have to pay to get exclusive use. You give your credit card details and the caller orders goods in your name.

 




10. Envelope addressing
Adverts offering to give you employment doing envelope addressing and asking you to send money to register – don’t. There is no work, just a scheme to put your own adverts out to get people to join the scheme. You get paid for their names and addresses.

Tips on how to prevent falling victim to a scam
Below are some basic tips on how you can protect yourself from scams:

1. Don’t give out personal details to anyone who contacts you. If necessary, look up their number yourself and telephone them back to check their identity. If it is your bank, they should be able to give you your own personal details.
2. Don’t send money to anyone who contacts you and says you have won a prize. If you did not know you had entered a competition, the chances are it’s a scam.
3. Block premium rate telephone numbers. You can ask your telephone line provider to stop your line from accessing them. (This will not stop crooks using overseas numbers)
4. Block all international numbers. You can get a PIN number to lift the block and it can be reinstated for a small fee
5. You can stop most rogue Internet diallers disguised as pop-ups by blocking all pop-ups. To do this, contact your Internet service provider
6. Check that the number your computer automatically dials up to connect you to the Internet is correct. Is it charged at local rates? If you find your Internet dialler has changed, put it back to the correct number immediately by altering your setting - otherwise you could be charged up to £40 a minute
7. Don't read suspicious adverts on the Internet. Rogue diallers can be disguised as games, e-mail attachments or downloads. If you get a suspicious message, don't just ignore it; try closing the window by pressing the 'ctrl' key and 'w' at the same time
8. Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date. You can download free software that will scan your hard drive and clean viruses from your PC.
If you think that you have been affected by a scam and wish to report it, please contact Gwynedd Trading Standards on 01286 682725 or safmas@gwynedd.gov.uk.

 

     
 
 
E-mail us Send a link to a friend   Bookmark this page
Print this page
E-mail Us
Send a link to a friend
 
Bookmark this page
Print this page
 
 
 
   
 
post@csngwynedd.org
 
 
Designed by delwedd.co.uk