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A victim's real life account of romance fraud

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Is What You See On Instagram Real?

Do you ever find yourself in a fit of envy when you're scrolling through Instagram? These people with their perfect lives, clear skin, amazing clothes, loving partners, dreamy holidays and blissfully happy lives. Enough to make anybody feel pretty rubbish about their own lives in comparison.

I ddarllen yr erthygl hon yn Gymraeg, clicia yma

It's hard not to compare your life to others. When you're stood in front of the mirror, squeezing that spot, having just argued with your parents and bored out of your mind because you don't have anywhere to go or anything to do. Living your life through the imaginary lens of social media can be an escape, but it can also be harmful if you don't realise that what you're buying into is probably not real.

Life through the (filtered) lens

Repeat after me - "Instagram is not real life"!

Those people you look up to probably don't really live that perfect life. Instagram influencers they make an income from their accounts. When they get big followings they get sent free things and are paid to promote stuff, and so they need to keep up the farce of this perfect life.

Have you heard of VSCO girls? The scrunchies, hydro flasks, reusable straws and save the turtles. So called after the VSCO editing app that they use to make their images look flawless. These teenage girls are using apps to edit their lives, stripping the things that make them unique to become edited carbon copies of each other. Sksksk!

And VSCO is just one editing tool; there are tons of them. Social media apps have their own built in filters, even your smartphone has it's own filters. It's probably easier to show a filtered version of yourself than it is to show a real life version of you these days!

Shattering the illusion

There are lots of accounts out there that aim to shatter the illusion of these perfect Instagram lives. People like photographer Kim Britt who uses her @embracing_reality account to show Social Media Vs. Reality to her 35k followers. She shows how different angles and poses can make all the difference.

Travel blogger Martina Saravia (@tupisaravia) was called out online when she was caught editing the same clouds into her holiday photos to share with her 305k followers.

Take this image from @lenaks j Twitter account that shows how easy it is to create luscious looking images from a mundane flower stand in the middle of an arts and crafts shop. You could say that this photo was taken anywhere and be none the wiser.

Video creator @GeorgeMason fooled his 92k Instagram followers that he'd gone on a trip around Europe from the comfort of his own home thanks to his Photoshop skills. And people were lapping it up (except a few who rumbled what was going on).

Influencer @natalia_taylor also managed to pull off fooling her 366k followers by convincing them she was in Bali when she was actually just taking photos in Ikea. Most of her followers believed her set up, even though it happened in the middle of a Covid-19 pandemic.

Be realistic - don't get sucked in!

It's very rare for you to see the bad days, the 'real' emotional moments on Instagram. But would you really want to watch someone living a 'normal life' just like you? The mundane day to day tasks. Wearing comfy joggers and your favourite old hoodie with a stain down the front. Crying, because you feel rubbish. Laughing so hard that you snot. Chatting to friends about nothing. Binge watching series after series on Netflix. Sitting in your messy room eating junk food. Yes real life can be boring, it can be great, it can be rubbish, but it's usually normal, and that's ok.

You shouldn't be using social media to get approval from others. Life isn't about getting the most likes; if you're not careful it can become addictive. Instagram is an artificial reality and you have to be aware of that. If not it can be really bad for you. It can make you feel that you're not good enough. It can leave you with body image issues, low self-esteem, anxiety and depression if you're constantly comparing yourself to the unachievable fake, filtered and edited lives you see online.

But while social media can have negative effects it also has its positives. It connects, supports, is entertaining and fun. As long as you are able to recognise it for what it is, and have a healthy sense of balance towards it then it's not bad for you.

Further information

Get help

If you feel that social media is affecting you negatively then take a little break from it every now and then. If you're feeling that you're self-esteem is low then check out this advice from the NHS or Young Minds on how to believe in yourself and raise your self-esteem.

Meic is always here to talk. If you're feeling down then give us a call, text or chat to us online. We're here to listen and to offer advice.

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Is What You See On Instagram Real? - Home - Meic

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I ddarllen yr erthygl hon yn Gymraeg, clicia yma It's hard not to compare your life to others. When you're stood in front of the mirror, squeezing that spot, having just argued with your parents and bored out of your mind because you don't have anywhere to go or anything to do.

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Groomed Through Gaming: The Murder Of Teenager Breck Bednar

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Consumers are bombarded with emails and texts - both legit and fraudulent

Fraudsters also increasingly target younger people on social media

Often these take the forms of fake refunds or invitations to make money quickly

We reveal some of the most common messages that should ring alarm bells

Plus some tips on how to protect yourself and how to report them

The UK is experiencing something of a fraud epidemic if the latest figures are anything to go by.

Bank scam victims lost £207.5million in the first six months of this year as a total of 57,549 cases of 'authorised push payment scams' - where the victim is conned into transferring from their accounts to the fraudster - were recorded by banks.,

That's a 69 per cent rise compared with the same period in 2018, according to trade body UK Finance. But only £39.3 million was refunded, with banks blaming victims for approving the payments.

Criminals are increasingly sophisticated in how they persuade people to hand over their money. But many scams follow similar patterns, meaning there are tell-tale signs in most initial contacts from fraudsters.

Here we break down some of the most common types of scams and the messages that precede them, so you know what to look out for.

Smishing messages

This is when fraudsters pretend to come from a financial organisation by mimicking correspondence such as a genuine contact number.

This often takes the form of a query about a suspicious transaction, telling the target to call 'fraud prevention'. Because the bank or other firm's number is successfully spoofed, these texts often look like they've come from a legitimate bank number.

Because this is also something that banks actually do, as we reported in the case of a Metro Bank customer who lost £10,000 to smishing crooks, victims often fall for the bluff.

When you call the number, fraudsters will then attempt to take you through security.

In the case we reported on, the victim was taken through security and asked to provide characters from his password and 12-digit security number, with the 'bank' telling them they'd cancel his card and send him a text message with a code authorising that cancellation.

Instead the fraudsters set up new payees to transfer money out of his account.

HMRC in particular have tried to clamp down on the practice of number spoofing, but it still abounds because it is relatively easy to do.

Two instant checks you can make is by checking the number you are told to phone matches the one on the back of your card, and then check your bank balance online to see your 'available balance' and see if it is minus the amount someone has supposedly just spent on your card.

If it is a fake message, then you can use a 7726 service, or 87726 if you're on Vodafone, to forward messages to telecoms companies so they can block them. Most banks also have phishing email addresses that you can report these scams to.

Fake HMRC tax rebates

Everyone loves a tax refund right? Well, fraudsters know that too.

Victims are lured in with the promise of a tax refund, usually delivered by email.

More than 620,000 tax-related email scams were reported to HMRC last year, and students have been increasingly targeted in recent times, despite the fact that most will have never paid tax because they don't earn enough.

HMRC only last week warned of a fresh wave of tax scams aimed at new university students. Often these fake emails come with '.ac.uk' at the end of them, though this isn't always the case.

Regardless of whether you're at university or not, the advice is the same. HMRC don't email you out of the blue to let you know about a tax refund.

And they certainly wouldn't send you an email with a 'start claim' link or password-protected PDF document that encourages you to hand over your bank details.

You can forward suspect emails claiming to be from HMRC to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk, and fake texts to 60599.

Scam refund emails

Money Mail reported this week on how one British Gas customer was sent a phishing email letting them know they were due a £467 refund. Paul Henthorne, who received the email, described it as 'one of the best phishing emails I think I've seen'.

Fraudsters are increasingly adept at copying the email formats of companies and stealing their logos, and using them to scam consumers with phishing emails.

Given the news this week, you should also be on the lookout for scammers offering you refunds on Thomas Cook flights or holidays in a bid to get hold of your card details.

Utility companies like British Gas would usually write to you to inform you you're in line for a refund, though with the rise of smaller web-based suppliers more firms are using messaging to contact customers so it's understandable that people are drawn in.

While these emails are usually very sophisticated, there can still be some giveaways. Sometimes they will address the email to your email address rather than your name.

Again, if you're unsure about something, go to a firm's website and look for their phishing address to forward the email to or call them up. If it turns out to be legitimate, there's no harm done.

Fake savings products

People are offered best buy savings and Isa rates from fraudsters masquerading as legitimate financial institutions.

Readers have been offered four per cent fixed-rate bonds from 'JP Morgan Chase' and best buy savings rates by the supposed asset management arm of Dutch bank ABN Amro. In both cases the paperwork looked authoritative, featuring the logos of the legitimate institutions and details, including an FCA registration number in the case of the latter.

The ABN Amro scam was particularly crafty because while they claimed to be offering rates that beat rivals, they weren't so good as to instantly arouse suspicion.

A one year fixed-rate savings bond of three per cent, for example, at a time when the top rate was 2.1 per cent.

Beyond the fact that banks wouldn't usually hawk you savings products by email, there are some other things you can do to check.

Go to the institution's website and look at the relevant products pages - if the account or bond exists it will be there somewhere.

If the firm's paperwork contains an FCA registration number, go to the FCA's register and input that number to see if it matches up.

In the case of the ABN Amro scam, the registration number on its documents took you to the Luxembourg branch of the bank, which had been sold to BNP Paribas last year. The name ABN Amro Asset Management didn't crop up anywhere.

Meanwhile, in the case of the fake JP Morgan Chase bonds, one - perhaps not easily spotted - giveaway was the fact the fraudsters had copied Lloyds Banking Group's privacy policy (see below).

Alternatively, find the actual number of the bank in question and ask to speak to their fraud team to see if they are aware of anything like this, or whether the promotion in question is true.

'Get rich quick' social media scams

Instagram is all about the fear of missing out, so online get rich scams that try to entice people in with displays of wealth are fairly commonplace.

They can take many forms, from cryptocurrency investments to forex trading, but they usually follow a similar template. Users interested in making money are encouraged to message a scammer in return for a quick return.

In February, fraud reporting website Action Fraud released a report that found between October 2018 and February 2019 it had received 356 reports of Instagram scams where victims lost a collective £3.16million.

Action Fraud's Paul Carroll advised users never to respond to any requests to send money to someone you don't know, and to ask for the name of the company you are being asked to invest in and check it against the FCA register.

And of course, if something sounds too good to be true, especially if its cloaked in jargon you don't understand, it almost certainly is.

Money mules

Money mules are recruited with promises of making easy money in return for simply accepting deposits into their bank account and then forwarding it on somewhere else.

The victim will effectively be laundering money.

The money has usually been defrauded from someone else, perhaps in one of the scams mentioned above, and because you're aiding a perpetrator, you could be prosecuted.

The number of money mules, according to fraud reporting service Cifas, rose 26 per cent last year to 40,139, nearly half of whom were under 25. According to figures released by Barclays, the number of under-21s enlisted as money mules rose to just over 6,000 between 2016 and 2018.

Like get rich quick scams, younger people are frequently recruited on social media or messaging apps and roped in with images of wealth.

Cifas said: 'On many of these pages there will be images or videos designed to lure in potential mules by showing individuals flashing lots of cash, high-end trainers or other luxury items.'

Beware of hashtags on social media like #Moneyflipsuk, #legitmoneyflips, #PayPalFlip and #EasyMoney, job offers for 'money transfer agents' or 'local processors' and refund requests after 'mistaken overpayments' in particular, as it could all point to money laundering.

And of course, never accept money from people you don't know.

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The 6 messages to be wary of if you're worried about falling for fraud

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Consumers are bombarded with emails and texts - both legit and fraudulent Fraudsters also increasingly target younger people on social media Often these take the forms of fake refunds or invitations to make money quickly We reveal some of the most common messages that should ring alarm bells Plus some tips on how to protect yourself and how to report them The UK is experiencing something of a fraud epidemic if the latest figures are anything to go by.

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'Video chat' is a term used to describe a conversation held over the internet using a camera so you can see people in real time. These conversations can be one-to-one, but technology has now made it possible for people to talk in large groups too.

Chances are you have used Zoom, FaceTime, Houseparty, WeChat, Skype or WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends and family. Video chat can be a great way for you to feel close to people that don't live nearby.

There are lots of people online who genuinely just want to chat. But there are a few people out there, girls and boys, men and women, who use video chat to hurt young people by asking them to do things they aren't comfortable with.

Like what?

They may try to convince young people that it's ok to talk to them about sex. They might pressure them to send pictures of themselves or go naked on a video chat or live stream.

It's easy to get carried away on video chat. Video chatting can be fun and exciting. It can feel really private - but there's a chance it could be recorded or shared. Although they often don't follow through, sometimes people threaten to share naked photos of young people with their friends and family.

Lies and truths

Here are some lies people tell. It's important you know the facts.

"If you do this for me I'll leave you alone"

The best thing if someone threatens you online is to get up, walk away and tell someone as soon you can. If you feel trapped, report to CEOP

"The police will never find me, I've hidden myself on the internet"

This is never true. No matter what clever tricks they claim to be using, everyone leaves a 'digital footprint' online. The police are very good at tracking these people down, even if they're not in the UK.

"If you don't do more for me I'm going to share this image"
They often don't share the images - even when they've threatened to. It's not in their best interests. The more information they share, the easier it is for the police to track them down.

"If I share this image you'll never get over it"
You might feel you have no way out but this isn't true. All problems can be solved with support. If they do share an image, this is better than being forced to do more sexual things. Even if you think they will share the image, talking to someone will help you get perspective. You need support to make it stop.

"It's your fault for doing it in the first place"

It's never your fault. If you've sent a naked image or stripped on camera, the only person responsible is the one who pressured you to do it. Remember, they have committed a serious crime.

"There's no one who can help you. I'm in control"
There is lots of help and support out there. If you're too embarrassed to tell an adult you trust like your mum or dad, you can contact CEOP. CEOP have dealt with many cases such as these and spoken to many young people in this situation.They will provide you with advice and support. They will also find the person so the police can arrest them.

Things to remember about video chat

Don't feel pressured to get naked on camera
If someone is pressurising you to video chat or send videos, block them and report them to CEOP. CEOP can support you through this.

If someone threatens you online, tell an adult you trust as soon as possible.
If you can, get up from your computer immediately, walk away and tell an adult you trust, report to CEOP or call Childline on 0800 1111.

It's never too late to get help.
No matter how far things have gone, there are always people out there to help. If you're too embarrassed or scared to tell an adult you trust, you should report to CEOP or call Childline on 0800 1111. They will understand what you're going through and help to make it stop.

Remember - it's not your fault.
Whatever you've shared on camera, if someone is threatening you or making you feel uncomfortable - they are the only person to blame. They will be held responsible. You won't be in trouble.

They have broken the law.
Encouraging a young person to get naked or do sexual things on camera is a serious crime. You're not alone, you will be supported.

Has someone made you feel uncomfortable on video chat?

Unfortunately this type of abuse can happen to anyone. Remember, if this does happen to you - it's never your fault. It's never too late to get help.

CEOP

CEOP helps young people who are being sexually abused or are worried that someone they've met is trying to abuse them.

If you've met someone online, or face to face, and they are putting you under pressure to have sex or making you feel uncomfortable you should report to CEOP.

This might be someone:

Making you have sex when you donʼt want to

Chatting about sex online

Asking you to meet up face to face if youʼve only met them online

Asking you to do sexual things on webcam

Asking for sexual pictures of you

Making you feel worried, anxious or unsafe

If this is happening to you, or you're worried that it might be, report to CEOP.

Want to talk to someone privately?

Childline

Childline is a free helpline for children and young people. You can contact Childline about anything. No problem is too big or too small. Whatever your worry, it's better out than in.

Childline is a private and confidential service. Confidential means not telling anyone else what you've said. This means that whatever you say stays between you and Childline.

They would only need to tell someone else if:

You ask them to

They believe your life or someone else's life is in immediate danger

You are being hurt by someone in a position of trust who has access to other children like a teacher or police officer

You tell them that you are seriously harming another young person

Call them on 0800 1111. The number won't appear on your phone bill.

You can also visit www.childline.org.uk to speak to a counsellor online.

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'Video chat' is a term used to describe a conversation held over the internet using a camera so you can see people in real time. These conversations can be one-to-one, but technology has now made it possible for people to talk in large groups too.

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MyBnk's My Moneycast - Episode 4: Avoiding Scams

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How to figure out if something is fake on the internet

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How to figure out if something is fake on the internet

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How To Figure Out If Something Is Fake On The Internet - Meic

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It’s important that you know how to spot something fake on the Internet. It might stop you from sharing something misleading or harmful.

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Fraudsters are scamming teenage 'money mules' on Instagram and Snapchat

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We work with safety organizations around the world to help you navigate an online experience on TikTok that is safe. Find TikTok's safety resources.

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About loan sharks
Reporting a problem to Trading Standards
Trading Standards deal with complex consumer problems and potential criminal activities.

If you want to report a problem to Trading Standards, you should contact the Citizens Advice consumer service, who share information reported to them with Trading Standards.

This information tells you about illegal lending and what to do if you have borrowed from a loan shark.

What is a loan shark

A money lender has to be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to lend money legally. Money lenders who aren't authorised by the FCA are breaking the law. They are known as loan sharks.

Loan sharks often work from home, charge very high rates of interest and don't give you much paperwork to confirm the arrangements they've made with you. A loan shark usually has lots of customers and lends money like a business, but their lending is illegal.

Loan sharks often take other illegal action to collect the money they've lent you, such as threatening violence or taking away your credit cards or valuables. In extreme cases, they've been known to force non-payers into prostitution and drug dealing.

If you're threatened by someone who lends you money

If someone who has lent you money threatens you or is violent, contact the police straight away.

Do this even if it's an informal loan from someone you know, such as a friend or family member.

Borrowing from friends or family

Not all lending needs to be authorised by the FCA - for example, informal, one-off loans between friends or family aren't against the law. If you're not sure if a loan needs to be authorised by the FCA, get help from your nearest Citizens Advice.

Even if a loan is informal, anyone who lends you money can't do anything illegal when they collect it, such as harassing you.

Checking a lender is authorised

If you borrowed money from someone who isn't FCA authorised, you haven't broken the law, they have.

You can find out whether a money lender is authorised by checking the register on the FCA website at www.fca.org.uk.

What to do if you owe money to a loan shark

In England, if you think a money lender is operating without being FCA authorised, you can speak in confidence to the Illegal Money Lending Hotline on 0300 555 2222. You can also email the Illegal Money Lending Team at reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk or text loan shark and your message to 60003.

In Scotland, you can speak in confidence to the national Trading Standards Scotland team to report an illegal money lender on 0800 074 0878, or report it online to them at www.tsscot.co.uk.

In Wales, you can report concerns about a money lender to the Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit which operates a 24 hour confidential helpline on: 0300 123 33 11.

In Northern Ireland you can contact the Trading Standards Consumerline, telephone 0300 123 6262.

The advisers can give you advice about your situation. The information you provide helps them to take action to stop illegal money lending.

You can find more information about loan sharks and reporting them on the GOV.UK website at www.gov.uk.

If you are in debt or you are thinking about borrowing from a loan shark, get advice first, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click nearest CAB.

Further help and information

For more information about different ways of borrowing money and getting credit including dealing with loan sharks, see Types of borrowing.

You may also find the following information helpful:

The Money Advice Service

The Money Advice Service is a free, independent service. Their website ( www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk) has lots of useful information about borrowing and managing your money.

Go to their website for more information about:

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Reporting a problem to Trading Standards Trading Standards deal with complex consumer problems and potential criminal activities. If you want to report a problem to Trading Standards, you should contact the Citizens Advice consumer service, who share information reported to them with Trading Standards.

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How you can find your local Police force.

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How to spot and report fake emails and phishing scams

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How to spot and report fake emails and phishing scams

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Phishing scams take the form of a what looks like a legitimate email from a brand or company that you recognise. Cybercriminals use the names of larger companies as they prey on the idea that recipients trust this brand and would expect to receive emails from them.

Common phishing emails might be from HMRC, your bank, Apple and Amazon who claim that you need to click a link to update your account, or a refund has been awarded and therefore they need your account details. These are more than likely fake emails.

Even if you think you know the sender they might not be who they say they are. A rule of thumb is to never click on something you are unsure of, as by clicking on that link you're going to be taken to a fake website which collects your information.

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How to spot and report fake emails and phishing scams | MoneyHelper

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How to spot and report fake emails and phishing scams, and how to protect yourself from future scams.

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As the popularity of internet shopping and online auctions grows, so the number of complaints about transactions is increasing. Some of the most common complaints involve:

buyers receiving goods late, or not at all

sellers not receiving payment

buyers receiving goods that are either less valuable than those advertised or significantly different from the original description

failure to disclose relevant information about a product or the terms of sale.

If you are a victim of shopping or auction fraud, the most immediate problem is that you have no real prospect of returning the goods or having your money refunded.

After this, there is a risk that your identity details could be compromised. Fraudsters could steal your identity and use it to access your personal finances or obtain goods or finance from alternative sources.

Are you a victim of shopping and auction fraud?

You've bought goods from an online seller that are either late in arriving or don't arrive at all.

You've received goods from an online seller that don't match the original description.

You've given identity details or personal financial information to an online seller who has used them in criminal ways.

What should you do?

If the seller has misrepresented the goods you've bought, report the fraud to Action Fraud.

Keep all evidence of the offence, including goods and correspondence.

If there is a business dispute over the nature of the transaction, contact the website involved. Or, you can alert the Citizens Advice consumer service by phone on 08454 04 05 06.

Protect yourself against shopping and auction fraud

Make sure you've installed the latest software & app updates. Criminals use weaknesses in software to attack your devices and steal information, such as your payment details.

Use a strong, separate password for your email account. Criminals can use your email to access other online accounts, such as those you use for online shopping.

Don't click on a link in an unexpected email or text.
The volume of online shopping related phishing emails increases significantly during the holiday period. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Don't pay for goods or services by bank transfer unless you know and trust the person. Payments via bank transfer offer you no protection if you become a victim of fraud.

As a buyer you should:

Try to avoid paying by money transfers - they aren't secure.

Be careful when using direct banking transactions to pay for goods. Make sure transactions are secure.

Don't send confidential personal or financial information by email.

Use an online payment option such as PayPal, which helps to protect you.

As a seller you should:

Be wary of accepting payment by cheque. Even though it may clear, you are still liable if the cheque is forged or stolen.

Don't accept a cheque for a higher amount and refund the difference. This is a common fraud that only comes to light when the buyers' cheque turns out to be stolen or forged.

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As the popularity of internet shopping and online auctions grows, so the number of complaints about transactions is increasing. Some of the most common complaints involve: buyers receiving goods late, or not at all sellers not receiving payment buyers receiving goods that are either less valuable than those advertised or significantly different from the original description failure to disclose relevant information about a product or the terms of sale.

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Keeping yourself safe online/ Cadw dy hun yn ddiogel ar-lein

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Keeping yourself safe online/ Cadw dy hun yn ddiogel ar-lein

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Learn how to use passwords to keep your online information safe, and how to control who sees your personal information.

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The UK's leading awareness resource helping protect people, finances, devices and businesses from fraud, abuse and other issues encountered online.

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Resources for 11-19s - UK Safer Internet Centre

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Experiencing cyberbullying? Confused about sexting? Worried about a friend online? Take a look at our resources for 11 -19 year olds

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Designed and Developed by South West Grid for Learning (http://swgfl.org.uk/)

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Report Harmful Content - We Help You Remove Content

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We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.

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You can report fraud or cybercrime to Action Fraud any time of the day or night using our online reporting tool. Reporting online is quick and easy. The tool will guide you through simple questions to identify what has happened and our advisors are available twenty four hours to give you help and advice if you need it.

When reporting online you will be given the option to register, login to an existing account or continue as a guest.
By registering you will be able to:

Save and resume a partially completed report

Track progress of your report

Add information to your report

Call us to discuss your report

Receive an update by email

If you continue as a guest you will only be able to receive updates by email or post.

You can also report to us by calling 0300 123 2040 Monday to Friday 8am - 8pm. If you are calling from abroad please call +44 300 123 2040.
Reporting fraud to other organisations
If your report relates to any of the below, please follow the links to report it to the correct organisation.
Reporting a live cyber attack 24/7
If you are a business, charity or other organisation which is currently suffering a live cyber attack (in progress), please call 0300 123 2040 immediately. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please note, if you are member of the public you must call to report through our core opening hours.
What we do with your data after you report
We are aware of how important it is to you that we keep your data safe, so when you make a report we have standard protocols for handling and sharing your data.
Reporting a cybersecurity incident
When you suffer a cyber-attack, or a related cybersecurity incident and you are a business, you might need to report it to the Information Commissioner's office (ICO). Under the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules, from the 25th May 2018 it is mandatory that you also report data breaches to the ICO within 72 hours.

For information on how and when to report a cybersecurity incident to the ICO
Textphone
If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can contact us on textphone 0300 123 2050.

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Reporting fraud and cyber crime | Action Fraud

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You can report fraud or cybercrime to Action Fraud any time of the day or night using our online reporting tool. Reporting online is quick and easy. The tool will guide you through simple questions to identify what has happened and our advisors are available twenty four hours to give you help and advice if you need it.

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Are you worried about something that's happening to you or a friend?

Do you need help right now?

It's not always easy to admit it but we all need help sometimes. If you've got a problem or something you're worried about you'll find lots of people and places that can help here.

REMEMBER - whatever the problem is, talking about it can be the first step to solving it. If there's an adult you trust like a parent, carer or a teacher talk to them first about what's happening.

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It's not always easy to admit it but we all need help sometimes. If you've got a problem or something you're worried about you'll find lots of people and places that can help here. REMEMBER - whatever the problem is, talking about it can be the first step to solving it.

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Wouldn't it be handy to log into one website, or open one app on your phone, and see all of your accounts - all of your current accounts, credit cards and savings - in one place?

Thanks to a new initiative called 'open banking', that should be possible.

On January 2018, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) forced the nine largest UK current account providers (Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Danske, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide, RBS Group, Santander) to open up their data.

This means developers of mobile and web applications are able to 'plug in' to your current account data in a secure and standardised way, if you give them permission to do so.

So, what's open banking all about? In this guide, find out:

How will banks share my current account data through open banking?

Banks will be able to share customer data by publishing what's known as 'open APIs' or application programming interfaces.

They were told to be ready to do this by 13 January 2018, although the CMA had to grant an extension for six of the big nine.

This technology is already used by many well-known companies to provide integrated digital services.

For example, Uber overlaps with Google Maps so that customers can request a ride without having to switch to the Uber app, while travel app Citymapper connects to Transport for London data.

Open banking compliments a new set of rules being introduced across the European Union - under the second Payment Services Directive (PSD2) - that require banks, building societies and other financial providers to let customers easily and securely share their financial data, including transaction history and spending behaviour with other banks and regulated third-party providers.

PSD2 covers all payments accounts, including current accounts, flexible savings accounts, e-money accounts and credit cards, assuming you can manage all of these products online or via a smartphone app.

What are the benefits of open banking?

The aim is to encourage innovation and improve competition, by making it easier for you to hold multiple accounts and compare or switch financial products.

For now, open banking only applies to personal and small business accounts, although it will eventually be extended to cover other online payment products, such as credit cards and e-wallets.

Ultimately, it could allow you to manage all of your financial accounts and household bills through a single digital platform, with the option of allowing apps to 'plug in' and offer more personalised and intuitive services.

For example, an app might help you avoid charges or boost your savings by automatically moving money between various accounts. Open banking could also spur action in other markets, by encouraging you to look at your energy or phone bills.

Open banking vs screen-scraping

APIs aren't the only way to share your banking data with personal finance apps such as Chip (which automatically diverts spare cash to a savings account based on your spending habits) and Bud or Moneyhub (which let you view all of your accounts, cards, loans and investments in one place).

Money apps may also ask you to hand over your bank login details and give them permission to collect or 'screen-scrape' the data. Essentially, they pose as you, the customer, which can expose you to fraud.

One key benefit of open banking APIs is that you can authorise third-party access without having to reveal your login details to anyone other than your bank.

Sharing data via APIs is also more secure than screen-scraping because you know exactly what information is being shared and can more easily revoke access.

Screen-scraping is being phased out but some third party apps and websites still rely on this method of accessing your data.

For example, at launch, HSBC's Connected Money used screen-scraping to access all data other than its own, despite being pitched as an 'open banking app' in many publications.

Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group have launched similar apps, however, these exclusively use open banking APIs - which is why you can only view current accounts from specific providers.

If you do decide to use a third-party app that uses screen-scrapers instead of APIs, it's important that you trust them to have access to your accounts.

How do I use open banking?

Once you've given consent to a third party using open banking, you'll be redirected to your online banking login page where you'll enter your security details directly - crucially, these details won't be shared with the third party when you do this.

Watch the video below to see an example of adding an account to an app that uses open banking APIs (in this case, Yolt).

You should see a list of any firms you've given consent to via online banking, and you can stop sharing data at any time.

Do I have to share my banking data?

No, if you don't want to share your data, you don't have to. Third-party providers will need your explicit permission before they access your data through open APIs.

That means you don't have to opt-out - if you do nothing, your data will not be shared without your consent.

Will open banking be a flop, like Midata?

The big high-street banks will be keeping a close eye on tech giants such as Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon, all of which have the status to transform the payments and banking industry once they have access to bank's customer data.

In the future, it could be the tech firms that manage every aspect of your finances, and banks could be relegated to holding your salary and nothing else.

That said, it's too early to say whether many consumers will take advantage of open banking, although it's worth remembering that Midata - the government's previous attempt to encourage switching by opening up banking data - failed to have any meaningful impact.

The big banks wouldn't let you share your data if they weren't being forced to, but a few seem less reluctant than others to (publically at least) embrace the upcoming changes.

For instance, Barclays added an open banking feature to its mobile banking app in September 2018, enabling customers to securely view the balances and transactions of other current accounts they hold when they log into their Barclays app. For now, it can only link accounts held with Lloyds, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, RBS, NatWest, Nationwide or Santander.

How do I check a firm is authorised to offer open banking services?

The OBIE or Open Banking Implementation Entity (which has been set up by the CMA to deliver open banking) told Which? that banks and third-party providers can only 'talk' to each other via the 'Open Banking Directory' - the IT platform which makes it possible for them to exchange information securely via open APIs - and to be enrolled on the directory, they must be appropriately regulated.

There is now a list of firms enrolled in open banking, all of which are regulated. It's worth noting that banks may explicitly state in their terms and conditions that you are responsible for checking that any third-party provider you want to use is authorised, not the bank.

You can also use the Financial Services Register to see if a third-party provider is registered and authorised to carry out one or both of these two activities:

Account information sharing services such as budgeting apps and price comparison sites that let you view accounts from multiple providers in one place.

Payment initiation services that allow you to instruct payments to be made directly out of your bank account, as an alternative to using a third party such as a Visa debit card or PayPal.

And, if you have a complaint about a provider, you will still have access to:

If you decide you no longer want a third-party provider to have access to your data, you should be able to easily revoke consent.

The nine participating banks and building societies should provide an 'authorisation dashboard' where you can see a list of providers with permission to access your account data. You can withdraw permissions whenever you wish to, at the press of a button.

Third-party providers are also being encouraged to offer a dashboard that lets customers easily review and revoke their consent.

Who is liable for unauthorised payments in open banking?

If you notice a payment that you didn't authorise, you can make a claim from your bank, even if that payment has been initiated through a third-party provider.

Your bank must refund you immediately, unless they have grounds to suspect fraud or negligence. If the third-party was at fault, the bank can recover the funds from them.

However, Which? is concerned that open banking could lead to a higher number of authorised push payment (APP) scams, where fraudsters trick account holders into making a payment or transfer, often by posing as their bank or the police.

Our super-complaint on bank-transfer scams has called on the Payment Systems Regulator to ensure banks better protect customers who are tricked into sending money to a fraudster.
Screen-scraping and fraud
As we explained above, open banking is a better way to share your data than screen-scraping because you don't need to share your account login details directly.

Banks can't block screen-scraping, however, they could refuse to refund fraud losses if you choose to share login details with a firm that isn't authorised and regulated by the FCA (check this on the Financial Services Register) or another European regulator.

What are the security risks to open banking?

Open banking should give you greater control over your money, but it raises critical questions about data privacy, security, and financial exclusion.

Even regulated firms aren't immune from cyberattacks, as evidenced by the recent Equifax data breach, and bank account transactions can include highly sensitive personal data about spending habits, political affiliations, medical care, family and friends.

The OBIE says: 'The regulated third-party provider the consumer has given their consent to for sharing their data with, is responsible for ensuring any personal data they process, store or transfer is appropriately and securely protected.

'The consumer can directly complain to the third-party provider in the first instance, and should this not resolve the issue, they can lodge a complaint with the FOS. They can also lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioners Office.'

But, with a complicated chain of providers sharing access to your data, multiple parties could be potentially liable for loss of a personal customer's data though error, attack, or fraud.

The issue of 'consent' needs to be looked at carefully, so that consumers understand exactly what they are agreeing to when they share their data.

This is particularly important when apps or services combine open banking with other methods of data sharing.

For example, if an app uses the open banking API to access current account data, but has to rely on screen-scraping to access data for other products such as mortgages and credit cards, it's vital that the distinction between the two is made clear.

Which? will be watching closely to make sure financial and data regulators work hard to safeguard consumers in this context, and build trust in these new services.

Open banking for small businesses

Small businesses (SMEs) are also set to benefit from open banking, and we have a good idea of what this might look like thanks to an initiative called the 'Open Up Challenge'.

Launched in February 2017 by UK charity Nesta, and backed by the CMA, this called on fintechs and start-ups to propose apps and services for small businesses.

The 20 successful entrants received a £50,000 up-front development grant and were given access to a 'Data Sandbox', containing anonymised UK banking transaction datasets and open APIs, to help develop their products in line with the new standards for open banking.

Ten winners were announced in December 2017, earning £100,000 for developing products deemed most likely to have a positive impact on UK small businesses, including: account aggregation app Bud; freelancer current account provider Coconut; alternative lender iwoca;

The competition regulator asked the eight largest SME banking providers to provide the funding for this challenge (Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland UK, Barclays, Danske, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, RBS Group, Santander).

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Open banking: sharing your financial data

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Wouldn't it be handy to log into one website, or open one app on your phone, and see all of your accounts - all of your current accounts, credit cards and savings - in one place? Thanks to a new initiative called 'open banking', that should be possible.

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The fake 'Alton Towers Breaks' and 'Center Parcs Resorts' pages claim to offer the chance to win getaways worth more than £2,000.

The Alton Towers page was set up on 13 July and has already amassed 74,000 likes. The Center Parcs Resorts page was set up in 2020 and has 33,000 likes.

Posts from the pages both follow the same format, telling users that all they need to do is 'like', 'comment' and 'sign up' in order to be entered into the giveaway. These sophisticated scams use images and branding taken from official websites to create the illusion of authenticity.

Find out more about these scams and how to protect yourself.

'Alton Towers Breaks' scam competition

'Center Parcs Resorts' scam competition

Users who click the sign-up option at the top of the page are taken to a broken website with no competition details.

It's unclear if the pages ask for more personal details after users interact with the posts. At present, we're unaware of anyone who has handed money over to the pages.

This fake competition 'sign up' could be tracking users who click through to its website, priming them to receive spam ads from the people running the pages.

Users who have interacted with these pages can be caught in a vicious cycle where 'likes' inflate the popularity of the page, adding to the illusion of authenticity and further promoting it so it's seen by more people.

We've reported the scam pages to Facebook and they have since been closed down. In response, a Facebook spokesperson told us that "Fraudulent and deceptive activity is not allowed on our platforms, and we have removed the Pages brought to our attention. Our team of over 35,000 safety and security experts disable billions of fake accounts every year and remove millions of fraudulent posts.

We have donated £3 million to Citizens Advice to deliver a UK Scam Action Programme to raise awareness of online scams and help victims." .

Our research found that social media and search engine users are put off reporting scams by time-consuming forms and perceived lack of action against fraudsters. Which? believes that online platforms should be legally required to identify, remove and prevent fake and fraudulent digital content from appearing on their platforms.

When we told Center Parcs about the page, it said: ' Like a lot of well-known brands, our brand name has been used without permission by unauthorised Facebook pages on a number of occasions.
'We have reported this post to Facebook and we would like to remind people not to enter their details or share the page. If ever in doubt about a post, please visit our official Facebook page to check if it is genuine.'
Alton Towers said, ' We continually monitor social channels for imitation accounts created by unauthorised persons. While we take immediate steps to have these removed, we ask that social media users remain vigilant and check the authenticity of any accounts offering information and competitions relating to Alton Towers Resort.
'Any legitimate competitions and giveaways being run by Alton Towers Resort and approved third-parties will always be listed on our website altontowers.com.'
Social media scams

Follow these steps to help protect yourself from social media scams:

If you think you've come across a scam online or on social media, read our guide on what to do if you think you've spotted a scam .

How to report a scam

If you think you've found a fake or fraudulent page or an account on Facebook, you should report it to Facebook.

As well as reporting the advert to the platform that's hosting it, you can report scams to Action Fraud, or by calling 101 if you live in Scotland.

Read our guide to find out how to report a scam.

If you've recently encountered a scam, you can help our scams research and our work to prevent scams by using the Which? scam sharer tool.

Which? scam alerts

You can get regular updates on the current scams doing the rounds by signing up to the Which? scam alert service .

These are free weekly emails full of practical advice to help you stay one step ahead of the scammers.

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Scam alert: Alton Towers and Center Parcs fake Facebook giveaways - Which? News

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The fake 'Alton Towers Breaks' and 'Center Parcs Resorts' pages claim to offer the chance to win getaways worth more than £2,000. The Alton Towers page was set up on 13 July and has already amassed 74,000 likes. The Center Parcs Resorts page was set up in 2020 and has 33,000 likes.

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Universal Credit scams/ Twyll Credyd Cynhwysol

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Universal Credit scams/ Twyll Credyd Cynhwysol

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There are many ways a Universal Credit scammer might approach you.

Some people have reported being approached in person by smartly dressed people claiming to be from Jobcentre Plus.

Others have been contacted online through social media groups, direct messages and adverts.

People have also been approached online by someone claiming to have a friend who works at a Jobcentre, who'll be able to process or approve the application on your behalf.

Some of these companies have professional-looking social media profiles and websites, with testimonials and government logos.

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There are many ways a Universal Credit scammer might approach you. Some people have reported being approached in person by smartly dressed people claiming to be from Jobcentre Plus. Others have been contacted online through social media groups, direct messages and adverts.

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'They said I should expect a police raid in 30 minutes'

Jon Downs, from Staffordshire, is one of those to receive a call from the 'HMRC' scammers. He told us: "They started by asking me to confirm my name, address and I think it was my national insurance number. Not sure if I gave them these details or not, but then they said they had tried to contact me before and why had it taken me so long to return their call.

"They went on to say that they carry out audits on people's tax and that mine showed fraudulent activities. They stated that according to their audit I owed £4,783, or a similar number, and they then went on to say that I must now listen, and not interrupt, whilst they read out a legal statement. Again the tone was very official, professional and very abrupt.

"Following this they then stated that from that point my assets, passport and other such items had been frozen. They stated that they had now triggered the police response and I should expect a raid within the next 30 minutes for tax fraud, and that I would be arrested and taken into custody whilst a full investigation took place.

"I then asked what I could do to avoid this, and they said 'probably nothing', but did I 'have a proposal?' This was the first time I started to think it may be a con. They then stated I could make a payment immediately and they could look to stop all further action. However, as I was sure I had not done anything wrong, I stated I would try my chances in court first. They pushed hard again, stating I would end up with a criminal record.

"By now I was panicked, but still stood by the principle I had done nothing wrong. I said I will wait for the police to arrive and put down the phone."

After hanging up, Jon contacted the police about the issue, and they explained to him that it was likely a scam, as they knew nothing about the situation.

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Beware 'HMRC' phone scams - surge in calls telling victims they owe taxman £1,000s

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Jon Downs, from Staffordshire, is one of those to receive a call from the 'HMRC' scammers. He told us: "They started by asking me to confirm my name, address and I think it was my national insurance number.

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The international group is made up of more than 200 consumer organisations from more than 100 countries, including Which?.

It found that last year, global e-commerce sales totalled a dizzying $2.29trn, and yet seven in ten of us still worry if our digital payments are safe.

Marketplace bank transfer: a cautionary tale

All Neil Ogden wanted was the new Call of Duty game, instead he got ripped off.

He found a woman selling the PlayStation 4 game on Facebook marketplace for £20 and got in touch

The woman told Mr Ogden he wouldn't be able to pick up the game because her daughter was ill, so she could post it instead for an extra £2.

Mr Ogden's wife, Vikki, told which? that the woman also said she didn't have a PayPal account, so they bank transferred a total of £22 pounds on the Sunday evening.

'My husband then followed it up on Monday to ask if she had posted it yet, to which she responded by exiting the group and blocking him on Facebook altogether,' Mrs Ogden said.

'She has blocked me on Messenger and a few other people who have tried to message on our behalf.'

Mrs Ogden then searched the woman's name on Facebook and found a number of other people had also been scammed by her as well. She wrote a post at the start of February, warning others about dealing with the woman.

So far, more than 20 people have told her they were also scammed by the woman.

'She has done the same to all of them. Most people around £20, one person I know has lost £70, so there's more than £500 that she's scammed so far that I'm aware of.'

The day after they realised they'd been scammed, Mrs Ogden reported it to their bank - who weren't able to issue a refund because the money had been sent via bank transfer - and to Action Fraud.

Mrs Ogden also reported the woman to Facebook who eventually took down her selling posts.

Top three tips before you buy online:

Before you check out, it's a good idea to first check your rights when shopping online because each marketplace has a different set of rules and it can also depend on which country you're buying from.

Whether you buy on Facebook Marketplace, Ebay or another marketplace, here are our top tips to stay safe while shopping online:

1. If it's too good to be true, it probably is. It's likely you could be buying a counterfeit, faulty or even a non-existent item.

2. Check the delivery method and returns policy. How much postage are they charging? Will they accept a return? If you're buying from an individual it's a case of 'buyer beware'.

3. Whatever you do, do not complete a bank transfer. If something goes wrong, and you used a credit card and you bought something between £100 and £30,000, you can claim your money back. But there's little you can do if you did a direct transfer.

If something does go wrong

If you've been scammed or there's something wrong with the item you've bought, here are some ways you can try get your money back.

Fairer digital marketplaces

In 2016, fraud and cybercrime losses in the UK grew to the equivalent of £210 per adult and in total £10.9bn was lost to the economy, according to fraud prevention group Get Safe Online.

Which? is calling on the government and the Payment Service Regulator to do more to confront scams head on. Sign the petition now.

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Watch out for online marketplace scams - Which? News

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The international group is made up of more than 200 consumer organisations from more than 100 countries, including Which?. It found that last year, global e-commerce sales totalled a dizzying $2.29trn, and yet seven in ten of us still worry if our digital payments are safe.

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Posts reporting the disappearance of a girl called Ellie Morrad have been circulating on Facebook.

One post says she went missing in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. But another says she went missing in Porthmadog in north west Wales.

The photo accompanying both posts is not of Ellie Morrad but of a girl from Ohio who went missing and was found late last year. This girl is not called Ellie Morrad.

What's more, a few months ago, other reports claimed a girl called Ellie Morrad was missing but these carried a different photo of a different child from the United States.

Needless to say, none of these posts are real. They continue a running trend of fake missing children reports being posted on Facebook to scam people. There have been no genuine news reports of a missing girl called Ellie Morrad.

These latest posts link to web pages which are flagged as deceptive by Google and, on clicking through, display 404 error messages.

We've seen similar posts that have been used to collect personal details from victims, in what's called a phishing scam.

For example, one post, sent the user to a site which looked like the Facebook login page, encouraging people to give over their login details. Reports from other Facebook users suggest this scam operates in the same way.

We're not including any links to the malicious posts for obvious reasons. If you see this story being shared on Facebook, do not click the link.

Organisations like Missing People, and Child Rescue Alert, as well as police forces are trustworthy sources of information on missing persons cases, so always double check where the information is coming from before you click on or share a post like this.

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Fake missing child reports used to scam Facebook users - Full Fact

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Posts reporting the disappearance of a girl called Ellie Morrad have been circulating on Facebook. One post says she went missing in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. But another says she went missing in Porthmadog in north west Wales. The photo accompanying both posts is not of Ellie Morrad but of a girl from Ohio who went missing and was found late last year.

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If you would like to subscribe to the NTS Scam Alert, please follow this link: Subscribe

14th May 2021

Two rogue traders have been fined for conning an elderly Ross-on-Wye woman into having unnecessary and expensive roof repair works.
A Bournemouth company, its director and salesman, who targeted the 78-year-old were all fined in court for unfair trading offences. more

18th May2021

A rogue builder who scammed Milton Keynes homeowners out of thousands pounds for work he didn't complete has been jailed for two and a half years. more

11th May 2021

Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Economic Crime Unit are warning the public to be extremely vigilant following reports of criminals posing as police officers.
Detective Chief Inspector Wilson said: "In an incident which was reported on 10th May, an older woman was contacted, by telephone, by a man purporting to be a police officer. more

12th May 2021

Two criminals have been convicted for conning vulnerable victims out of £36 million in a 'boiler room' fraud operation.
Paul Seakens, 60, and Luke Ryan, 33, were found guilty at the new specialist court, Prospero House, Southwark, on charges of running a business for fraudulent purposes. more

In the Queen's Speech on May 11th, a new version of the Online Safety Bill was introduced to include financial fraud and user-generated online scams but not fraud via advertising, emails or cloned websites. more

A gambler who scammed his retired father out of almost £400,000, forcing him back to work, has been jailed.

Peter Simmons, 27, stole his dad's life-savings by inventing a fictitious investment banker called Paul Newman while acting as administrator for the family tree surgery business. more

Between March and April 2020, Action Fraud warned that 669 people lost £282,686 from pet-related scams and frauds, which mainly involved paying deposits for animals advertised on social media and online selling platforms.
A loveMONEY reader lost £300 when he tried to buy kittens via Pets4Homes. more

18th May 2021

Posts reporting the disappearance of a girl called Ellie Morrad have been circulating on Facebook.
One post says she went missing in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. But another says she went missing in Porthmadog in north west Wales. more

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If you would like to subscribe to the NTS Scam Alert, please follow this link: Subscribe 14th May 2021 Two rogue traders have been fined for conning an elderly Ross-on-Wye woman into having unnecessary and expensive roof repair works.A Bournemouth company, its director and salesman, who targeted the 78-year-old were all fined in court for unfair trading offences.

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We can run workshops for young people on any of the topic areas covered in our resources.

In the one-to-one workshops we are able to go into more depth on an issue, providing guidance based on the individual's needs.

For more information contact Bethan Wilson, Development Officer, Children in Wales. bethan.wilson@childreninwales.org.uk

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break it down into sections i.e money scams, romance scams car scams, insurance scams 

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break it down into sections i.e money scams, romance scams car scams, insurance scams 

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Scams can be sophisticated, but if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Find out how to spot the warning signs of investment, pension and other financial scams. First published: 08/08/2017 Last updated: 19/01/2026 See all updates

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Beware car finance scam calls, FCA warns

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Scammers are pretending to be car finance lenders and falsely claiming that people are owed compensation.

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42K views · 156 reactions | Top expert tips to protect your bank accounts from fraudsters. | Which?

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Top expert tips to protect your bank accounts from fraudsters.

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Protect yourself from holiday scams by learning how to keep your personal information safe with our top tips.

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Warning. Five holiday booking scams to watch out for as over £11 million lost to travel fraud

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If you’re looking at booking your summer holiday, Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert.com explains how to protect yourself against clone websites, fake deals and bogus cancellations, as fraudsters to continue to use a variety of sophisticated methods to trick holidaymakers out of their cash.

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7 Sneaky Holiday Scams to AVOID in 2025 ✈️

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Find out how insurance and warranty scams work, how to spot a ghost broker, and what to do if you are scammed. First published: 20/04/2016 Last updated: 19/05/2026 See all updates

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1. Explore on Foot or Bike: Walk or bike around your neighborhood to discover local amenities, parks, and shortcuts you might miss by driving.

2. Be a Tourist: Visit top local attractions, museums, and historical sites to understand the area's culture and history.

3. Volunteer: Getting involved in local charities,, community gardens, or cleanup events is an effective way to meet like-minded people.

4. Identify Core Services: Locate the closest grocery store, pharmacy, doctor, dentist, and post office

5. Create a Routine: Establishing a new daily routine—such as a morning run or a Saturday coffee spot—provides a sense of comfort and stability.

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Advice on being a good neighbour - Living Merthyr Tydfil

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Most people try and be good neighbours, and don’t set out to cause disputes. However, if problems do arise, there are a range of the options set out below that people may find helpful.

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Cadw fy hun, fy arian a'r eiddo sydd gen i yn ddiogel

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Cadw fy hun, fy arian a'r eiddo sydd gen i yn ddiogel

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Staying safe from scams – protect yourself, protect your loved ones

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Staying safe from scams – protect yourself, protect your loved ones

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Staying safe from scams – protect yourself, protect your loved ones

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UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

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Staying safe from scams – protect yourself, protect your loved ones

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Romance fraud usually involves fraudsters creating fake online personas to gain someone's trust and affection through the guise of a romantic relationship, with the ultimate goal of exploiting them for financial gain.

Romance fraudsters use language to manipulate, persuade and exploit. They work hard to make sure that when they ask for money, and require urgency or secrecy from the victim, it doesn't set off alarm bells.

In addition to the financial loss and subsequent hardship, victims of romance fraud also suffer the loss of a partner and support system, and a future that they believed in. They also have to come to terms with having been manipulated and deceived in such a callous, calculated way. For almost a third of those targeted, the fraud spans more than a year - for some, many years. Due to the isolation tactics used by fraudsters, the victim's relationships with family and friends are often damaged and they are left alone and vulnerable.

'Staying Safe from Romance Fraud' is a useful guide that highlights common tactics used in romance fraud, and offers advice on how to safeguard yourself.

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Learn how to spot and protect yourself from romance fraud. Discover common tactics and red flags to watch out for when building connections online.

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BBC One - Morning Live, Spotting fake insurance ads

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Consumer journalist Rebecca Wilcox explains how to stay safe against fake insurance ads.

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Car insurance fraud comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, from deliberately hiding penalty points to ‘crash for cash’ and ‘flash for crash’ scams.

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Romance fraud occurs when you think you’ve met the perfect partner online, but they are using a fake profile to form a relationship with you. Learn what romance fraud is, and how to give us information anonymously about those behind romance fraud scams.

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Safe Online Shopping Tips: How to Avoid Scams & Shop Securely

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Safe Online Shopping Tips: How to Avoid Scams & Shop Securely

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Safe Online Shopping Tips: How to Avoid Scams & Shop Securely

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Top 5 Things to Never Post on Social Media

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Top 5 Things to Never Post on Social Media

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Never ever post these 5 things in social media Follow @cybersecuritygirl for all the other cybersecurity education and online safety tips Thanks @lorigreinershark for another great video!

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@cybersecuritygirl
Never ever post these 5 things in social media Follow @cybersecuritygirl for all the other cybersecurity education and online safety tips Thanks @lorigreinershark for another great video!
♬ original sound - Cybersecurity Girl

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If travel companies announce they're going under, it can be a worrying time for consumers.

When a travel company goes out of business, scammers often quickly start emailing, texting and calling people under the guise of refunding their money.

The most obvious sign that you've been targeted by a scam is that you're 100% certain that you haven't booked or used a service by the company the scammers claim they are calling from - even if they claim otherwise.

However, if you have booked a holiday with a travel company which has been declared bankrupt, here are the warning signs that you're being targeted by fraudsters and not legitimate customer service agents.

The email or text you receive asks you to act urgently - it may say something along the lines of 'We can only help you get your refund this week - so act now!'

If it's a written message, it may be full of grammatical mistakes or the tone may not be what you'd normally expect from the company

If it's a phone call, the person on the end of the phone can't confirm they're calling from a certain company and can't give you any details about the holiday you've booked

They ask for personal details, or the long number on the front of your card and your three-digit security number

They ask you to confirm whole passwords - not just give a single letter, number or symbol from a password or memorable word

What can you do if you think you've been targeted by a travel scam?

It depends on whether you have or haven't responded to a text, email or phone call.

If you haven't yet responded to a communication from someone claiming to be the travel company you booked with, here's what you can do.

Ignore all requests to act quickly - a genuine company offering you a refund for your holiday will let you take your time, and genuine refunds can take months to sort out

Don't give any information to the people contacting you - not even the dates of your holiday and where you were planning on going. A genuine travel company will know these details

Get a friend or family member to look over texts or emails. Do they look genuine, or do they set alarm bells ringing?

Don't click on any links within the messages - save the messages, but don't interact with them in any way

Contact your bank- they can help to confirm whether such communication is genuine or not

If your bank can confirm the messages are genuine, Google the company and instigate any conversations by calling them on their official phone number(s)

If your bank confirms the messages aren't genuine, report the scammer's details to ActionFraud

Here's what you can do if you've already given a potential scammer your details, including your banking details.

Contact your bank as soon as possible to report the scam

Report the scam to ActionFraud

Don't communicate any more with the original scammers, or people who start contacting you offering to refund the money you've lost during the scam. It's likely they're the same people trying to scam you again

Don't rely on your travel company to help you in any way - even though their social media accounts may still be in use (for example, providing information for people who need to be repatriated), it's unlikely they can help people who need to claim their money back.

How to claim money back from a bankrupt travel company

If you've booked a trip with a travel company which has stopped trading, here's how you can give yourself the best chance of reclaiming your money back.

Getting a refund on a package holiday:

If you booked a package holiday, it will have been sold with an ATOL guarantee

This protects you from losing your money if the company goes under, or being stranded abroad if you're away when the company ceases trading

The ATOL guarantee will cover the cost of your accommodation abroad, although you may have to move to a different hotel or apartment. They will also cover the cost of your flight home

If your airline has gone under, the date and time of your flight home may have changed - you will be given an alternative flight home, but you may not be able to choose the time and date

You could potentially face a long wait to get your money back - it could take over two months. This is because lots of other people will all be claiming as well, and there'll be a backlog of claims

Getting a refund on a flight or separately-booked accommodation

If you've booked a flight-only deal or just accommodation, you will have to ask your bank or credit card provider for a refund.

You're more likely to get a refund if you bought your holiday using a credit card, as you're covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This is because your credit card provider has an equal responsibility to make sure you're not out of pocket if your travel company collapses.

If you used a debit card, you may be able to get a refund by using Chargeback.

If you have purchased travel insurance, you can also contact your insurer to see if they'll cover the cost of your holiday. It will depend on the kind of policy you've bought; the policy's terms and conditions will provide more details.

Look for the section on 'scheduled airline failure' or 'provider failure' as this is the section which will show if you're covered or not. This isn't a common feature for travel insurance policies - it tends to only be included if you've bought a 'premium' policy. Your insurer will be able to tell you if you're entitled to a refund, so it's best to contact them directly for more information.

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Online scammers are getting smarter - but we are, too. Here's how to spot and avoid travel scams if you're targeted by fake travel companies.

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How to avoid the most common travel scams

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How to avoid the most common travel scams

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How to avoid the most common travel scams

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Avoid some of the most common travel scams with out top tips and advice from our experts and over travellers.

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Combating deception, scams and abuse - Airbnb Help Centre

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Everyone must interact honestly with each other on Airbnb. To protect our community, Airbnb prohibits certain kinds of behaviour.

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Banking scams can take many forms, with fraudsters using a number of tactics to steal your money. Find out what these scams are and how to protect yourself. First published: 18/04/2016 Last updated: 31/03/2026 See all updates