11/04/24
Welcome to the latest edition of the Scam Share bulletin.
Stay Scam Aware and please keep sharing any relevant information in this bulletin with friends and family.
As part of the nationwide Shut out Scammers campaign, a Scam Awareness van will be travelling around the country over the next couple of months. There will be a variety of community engagement and information events to raise awareness of doorstep crime. The van is in Edinburgh until 12th April and will then be around the Glasgow area from 15-26 April. Keep an eye on our social media channels to find out when it will be near you!
Suspicious Text Messages
If you receive a suspicious text message you can forward it to 7726. The free-of-charge ‘7726’ service enables your provider to investigate and take action if malicious content is found.
Recently Reported Scams
Council Impersonation Scams
The Scam
This week, the Shut Out Scammers campaign is focused on impersonation scams.
Doorstep scammers frequently claim to work for or on behalf of the local council or housing association. They may ask to enter the property to carry out 'urgent' maintenance or repairs, or offer to carry out work for a reduced cost.
Here are some recent case studies:
Electrical Checks
A cold caller claimed he had been sent by the local council to check all electrical appliances in every room of a couple's house. The couple felt suspicious as he was unable to produce ID and asked him to leave. They then phoned the council, who confirmed that the man was not employed by them.
Ramps
Another cold caller said he was working on behalf of the local council and offered to fix two ramps on a property and to remove rubbish.
He said that, although this service was being provided by the council, the householders would have to pay £5,000 for 'materials'.
They were suspicious as he was demanding payment on the spot, so asked him to provide his details and wait while they contacted the council to verify his identity.
The man left without giving them any details and the council confirmed that they did not have any workers in the area.
Boilers
There have been reports from across Scotland of doorstep scammers who tell people that their boilers are faulty. They say it will cost £500 to fix the boiler, but that this can be claimed back from the council at a later date.
In some cases, they offer householders a prize if they will allow them to inspect their boiler, saying that they may be eligible to receive a free replacement.
Roofing
One cold caller said he was dealing with roofing repairs for the local council and offered to carry out repairs to a couple's roof, saying that the council would cover most of the costs. However, he asked for £100 in cash to cover the rest of the costs.
The couple agreed to pay the money - the cold caller then left to 'get materials' and never returned.
When they phoned the council to complain, the council confirmed that they had no dealings with the cold caller.
Driveways
There are frequent reports of cold callers who say they have been completing road repairs for the council and have 'leftover' tarmac. They offer to repair or replace driveways for a reduced fee, but then increase the price once the work has been completed.
Scammers offered to replace one woman's driveway for free and she agreed to let them carry out the work. However, they then presented her with a bill of over £800 and said that, while the tarmac was free, the labour was not.
We have published a video featuring another case study from a homeowner who was cold called by rogue traders saying they had been working for the local council and had some tarmac left over with which they could resurface his driveway. Although they said the materials were free, they ended up charging him £9,000 for labour costs. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/bSOdXRUH_aM
Painting
There have been several reports of cold callers who say they have been contracted by the local council to complete work on council properties and have extra funding to do similar work for owner occupiers.
They ask for a £500 deposit up front - two homeowners who paid this reported that the cold callers did not return to complete the agreed work.
Gardening
Cold callers visited properties and offered to carry out gardening work, saying that they had been employed by the council and could provide discounted rates. They didn't provide a business name or any details other than a mobile number.
Heating
Cold callers have claimed to be working for or with the local council and promise to improve residents' household heating.
In some cases, they offer to carry out free energy efficiency checks or install new heating systems. They may say that council or government funding is available to help with the cost of installing new energy efficiency measures and ask for personal and financial information so that they can 'check' if you are eligible to receive this funding.
How to Avoid
If someone knocks at your door and says they are working for or with the local council, ask them to wait and close the door while you phone the council to verify their identity. Genuine callers will be happy to wait while you do this.
Most councils will send letters to residents if they are going to be working in their area. They will only attend properties to carry out checks by pre-arranged appointment.
If a trader starts work on your property without being authorised and then demands payment, report them to Police Scotland.
Rather than dealing with cold callers, find traders who have been vetted through a national or local authority approved trader scheme at approvedtrader.scot
If a cold caller says you are eligible for a grant or funding for products such as boilers, insulation, heating or windows, verify that the offer is valid before agreeing to any deal. You can do this by calling Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or visiting homeenergyscotland.org
Sign up for Neighbourhood Watch Scotland Alerts to stay up to date with what is going on in your community: www.neighbourhoodwatchscotland.co.uk
If you need to call a trader for property repairs, find someone who has been vetted through a national or local authority approved trader scheme.
Report any suspicious behaviour to Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
The Scam
Householders across Scotland continue to be targeted by cold callers who claim to be from BT or say they are installing broadband on behalf of the local council.
One woman was visited by a cold caller who said he was checking the broadband in the area on behalf of BT.
He asked for her name and details about her BT account, before attempting to enter her house, claiming he needed to check her router. The woman felt suspicious and refused to let him in - after he had left she phoned BT who confirmed that the caller did not work for them
How to Avoid Always verify the identity of a cold caller before dealing with them. If a cold caller claims to work for a particular company or for the council, close the door and, rather than phoning the number on the caller's ID card, look up the council or company’s number on their official website or in an official phone directory. Legitimate callers will be happy to wait while you perform these checks.
Never feel obliged to answer the door to a cold caller – it is your home and you should not let anyone in unless you feel comfortable.
Sign up for Neighbourhood Watch Scotland Alerts to stay up to date with what is going on in your community: www.neighbourhoodwatchscotland.co.uk
The Scam
Doorstep scammers may look to take advantage of homeowners whose properties have been damaged in the recent stormy weather.
One of the most frequently reported scams is when uninvited traders say that you need urgent repairs done to your roof or house exterior.
They may say that they're offering a one-day only discount or special deal in an attempt to pressure you into agreeing to have work done on the spot.
One woman was recently cold called by a man who said he was a roofer carrying out work for her neighbours and had noticed that some of her slates were damaged. He offered to carry out repair work for £500, eventually reducing the price to £350.
The woman felt pressured to agree and gave him the cash the following day. He said that somebody would return shortly to start the work, but nobody arrived and she was unable to get back in touch with him.
How to Avoid Any unsolicited trader who offers to carry out work on your property must give you their business name and address.
Don't agree to let a cold caller start work straight away - do plenty of research into their company and, if something doesn’t look right, don’t deal with them.
If a trader starts work on your property without being authorised and then demands payment, report them to Police Scotland.
Rather than dealing with cold callers, find traders who have been vetted through a national or local authority approved trader scheme at approvedtrader.scot
Rogue traders often imply that urgent work is required in order to pressure householders into making a decision quickly. Always take time to think before making a decision - don't agree to make any payments for goods or services on the spot.
Sign up for Neighbourhood Watch Scotland Alerts to stay up to date with what is going on in your community: www.neighbourhoodwatchscotland.co.uk
Report any suspicious behaviour to Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
Report scams to Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or via scamwatch.scot.
Find out more
Find traders in Scotland who have been vetted by Trading Standards:approvedtrader.scot
The Scam
There has been a recent increase in scammers posing as police officers. The scammers typically cold call and say they have concerns regarding fraudulent use of your bank card. They may mention that local bank staff are being investigated and ask you to help them test security procedures.
They ask you to transfer funds to a 'safe account' or to visit your local bank branch to withdraw money, to 'check that staff are responding appropriately'. A scammer will then visit your house to collect the money, usually with a fake Police Scotland ID card.
Police Officers or your bank will never ask you to transfer money to another account or withdraw money from your account. They will never ask you to disclose personal financial information.
How to Avoid
If Police Scotland contact you, they will do so in person, by phone or by email. This will depend on the circumstances surrounding why they need to contact you.
If an officer contacts you in person, they’ll show you their police warrant card. This is proof of their identity and authority and you can verify this by dialling 101.
If an officer needs to speak to you on the phone or by email, they'll identify themselves clearly.
They will never:
ask you for your bank details or PIN
ask you to transfer funds to another account
ask you to hand over cash or bank cards to a courier
ask you to pay a fine or a fee to them or a third party over the phone or online
ask you for remote access to your computer, passwords or log on details over the phone or online
ask you to register personal details in an attachment they send or website they direct towards
ask you to 'assist' in an investigation by doing any of the above
communicate in an abusive, threatening or coercive manner
ask you to click on a hyperlink to participate in an investigation
If you're unsure about whether the person you're dealing with is a genuine police officer, call 101 to check their identity.
You should also contact 101 if you think you've experienced fraud.
The Scam
Taylor Swift fans are being warned to be vigilant when buying tickets online after a rise in fraudulent activity. Tickets for the three Scottish dates on the singer's Eras tour in June sold out almost immediately and resale tickets have been advertised online for more than £7,000.
According to Police Scotland, there have already been 16 reports of scams, with fans losing over £5,000 after paying for non-existent tickets that were advertised on social media and online marketplaces.
How to Avoid
Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, official promoter or agent, or a well-known and reputable ticket site. Tickets advertised in places such as social media, online marketplaces and fan forums may be fake or non-existent.
If possible, pay for tickets by card or using a secure payment system. Be suspicious if you are asked to make a bank transfer as this may be a scam.
Check that the seller is registered with the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR): Take a note of the seller’s name and, if they are a business, their address in case you need to contact them at a later date;
Be aware of the information which ticket sellers are required to provide. Sellers may be committing an offence if they fail to disclose relevant information.
App - short for 'application', refers to a software program for computers or other devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Malware - malicious software that is designed to damage or gain unauthorised access to a computer or other device.
Phishing - the practice of sending fraudulent emails which often appear to be from well-known organisations or companies and ask the recipient to provide personal information or to visit a particular website.
QR Code - a square barcode that a smartphone camera can scan and read to provide quick access to a website or app.
Ransomware - malware that makes data or systems unusable until the victim makes a payment.
Remote Access - the ability to access a computer or device from another location. Anyone with remote access to a device can access all files stored on it.
Smishing - the same as phishing, but carried out via SMS (text) messages rather than emails.
Software - the set of instructions and programs that tells a computer how to operate.
Virus - a computer program designed to infect and damage legitimate software.
Official Contacts
If you feel threatened or unsafe, contact Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
