Scams are on the rise in Northern Ireland and have become more difficult to spot. It is important that you know the signs to look out for and take a wary approach when faced with a potential scam.
Phone call scams
The majority of scams begin with a phone call, usually attempting to access your personal details in order to steal money through identity theft. It is best to check the phone call is legitimate Be sure not to give out your personal or bank account details to anyone. If you are suspicious the caller is not a trusted source, it might be an idea to block cold callers which can reduce the risk of being a victim of scams.
Text message scams
Scammers use clever tricks to try and gain your trust by sending fake text messages or emails claiming to be from a legitimate organisation such as your bank, Royal Mail or HMRC. The text message or email will include a link to a website prompting you to enter personal details. If this happens do not follow the link and contact the trusted source to check out the credentials.
Online scams
It is important to use strong passwords for online accounts and make an effort to change them regularly. Reliable websites start with HTTPS and not HTTP, check the spellings of the website as this can be altered slightly and be difficult to spot.
Door to Door fraud
If a stranger comes to your home do not let them come inside if you are not expecting them or are not certain they are a trusted person.
Statutory bodies will never ask you for your pin code, threaten you over the phone or in writing for not making a payment or ask you do go to your bank to transfer money.
You should report any scams to Action Fraud and Consumer Council. This can help them make other people aware not to fall for these scams.
For further information visit https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/scamwiseni
