Social Media and fake websites
- 75% of Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud originates from social media or online platforms.
- Fake goods are sold across all social media platforms and fake websites.
Social Media Platforms: Fraudsters post fake ads, create fake or take over genuine profiles to:
- Advertise fake goods & request payment by funds transfer.
- A recent example: fake Taylor Swift Tickets being sold on Facebook Marketplace.
Fake Websites: Fraudsters create fake websites; these can vary from no name sites with cheap goods or duplicating a well-known brand.
- Fraudsters steal your money – you might not get a refund from your bank.
- Fraudsters steal your personal information – this can be used to steal your identity, and apply for products in your name .
- You may download malware that will take over your device.
What to look out for
- Too good to be true offers.
- Being directed away from the site/platform to make payment.
- Requesting full payment by bank transfer.
- Pressure to complete the sale.
- Local Seller won’t meet in person.
- Links in emails, texts and social media messages and ads.
How to keep safe
- Do your research on established websites.
- Don’t click on links sent to you by text, email, or social media ads/ messages.
- Only pay a deposit for large items and balance on collection
- Use credit card where possible.
Delivery / Parcel scams
- Fraudsters send text messages, emails and post that appear to be from a genuine delivery service informing you that they have been unable to deliver a parcel or letter.
- The correspondence will have a link in which you are asked to provide personal and/or financial information. You may be asked to pay a small delivery fee.
- Fraudsters will then use your personal and financial details to steal your money, identity, or both.
What to look out for
- Text messages, emails or post from a delivery service with a link or requesting payment.
- A sense of urgency in the correspondence.
How to keep safe
- Don’t click on links sent to you by text, email or web addresses sent in the post.
- Take a moment to consider the correspondence could be fake.
- Search for the delivery service on your search engine to find their genuine website and check what their no delivery process is.
So what?
When a fraudster succeeds in their endeavours to obtain a payment or information from someone, the end results can be:
- They won’t get what they paid for.
- They could lose the money the spent.
- They experience the further reaching effects of fraud that can be impactful on everyday life.
Did you Know if you provide your card details to anyone, they can identify your bank by the first 4 digits on your debit card/credit card. Fraudsters use this information for a targeted attack by calling, texting, or emailing pretending to be from your bank.