3rd August 2010
iPhone users are being targeted by a new email scam promising them software that will allow them to download apps not approved by Apple.
Since it was announced that iPhone jailbreaking – where iPhone users can legitimately download apps not approved by Apple – is now legal in the US, fraudsters have been operating a new scam to take advantage of this.
How does the iPhone scam work?
2nd August 2010
People are being told they should be just as cautious when using social networking websites as they are when using their email accounts.
While many people are now getting savvy about restricting who can see their profiles by making them ‘private’ and only making friends with people they know, it is easy for fraudsters to take over a person’s profile and attempt to scam money out of those people a user is friends with.
Bogus messages on Facebook and Twitter
30th July 2010
Residents are being warned about phone calls that some households have received relating to council tax.
Some homeowners have been contacted from a call centre that appears to be based in India, stating that they can arrange for the refund of overpayments of council tax and they can also arrange for the homeowner's council tax band to be corrected.
30th July 2010
A number of would-be tenants have lost money after replying to a new wave of bogus adverts for rental accommodation on the website, Gumtree.
The victims, often from overseas, reply to adverts on the website for rental properties in the UK. After emailing the ‘landlord’, tenants are asked to send money to them. Once the money has been sent, the victims try to make contact with the ‘landlord’ and collect the keys, but the ‘landlord’ is uncontactable.
28th July 2010
People are being warned that fraudsters are pretending to be from MSN Money, offering an insurance service to help with property rentals. This is a scam – do not send any money or personal information.
Fraudsters have created at least one fake email address and a fake website that looks similar to the real MSN Money website. They are using the brand name ‘MSN Money’ as a way to trick people into sending them money. Money MSN insurance or RDP service does not exist.
How the MSN Money scam works
27th July 2010
Cash point users are being told to shield their PIN after seized criminal footage has revealed how fraudsters try to get hold of the four-digit number.
Cash point fraud happens when criminals attach a skimming device to the card entry slot. This device copies the information on the card’s magnetic stripe, while a miniature pinhole camera, which overlooks the cash point’s keypad, films the customer’s PIN as they enter it.
27th July 2010
There were more than 2,300 fraudulent insurance claims every week last year in Britain.
Some of the most common dishonest insurance claims include bogus motor insurance claims, inflated home insurance claims and liability claims for fake personal injuries.
The 8,500 dishonest liability claims insurers came across last year include:
26th July 2010
South Wales Police is urging residents to take care after an elderly lady in Pontypridd was phoned by someone claiming to be from TV Licensing.
The suspicious female caller asked for the woman’s bank details to pay for the TV licence. As she is entitled to a free licence, the woman did not give her bank details.
Police urge vigilance against fraudsters