ScamShare Bulletin

14.07.22

Threat Intelligence Alerts

The ScamShare Bulletin developed by Trading Standards Scotland looks at the latest phone, email and online scams affecting Scottish consumers and businesses.

Scams
In Scotland, report all scams to Advice Direct Scotland by calling 0808 164 6000 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or online at www.consumeradvice.scot

Fraud
If you have been the victim of fraud, report it to Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency. 

Suspicious Emails
You can forward suspicious emails to [email protected] and send links from websites which you think are trying to scam the public to the National Cyber Security Centre’s scam website reporting service at www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/about-this-website/report-scam-website

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.

The Scam
The Disclosure and Barring Service is warning those looking for a job that recruitment scams are rising. Ensure that any role being applied for is legitimate before providing personal information or documents.
Scammers usually ask for personal details that job applicants typically provide to employers, including National Insurance numbers, bank details, birth certificates or passport information.
This information could be used by fraudsters to commit identity theft.

Some scammers also aim to encourage job seekers to pay for fraudulent courses, background checks and other non-existent services.

How to Avoid

Don’t include personal information such as your address, date of birth or NI number on your CV or public profiles on recruitment sites.

Verify that the employer/recruiter you are speaking with is legitimate by contacting them using a phone number or email address listed on their official website or social media accounts. Check official records on websites such as companies house to confirm that the organisation offering you the job actually exists.

Find out More

Jobs Aware website: www.jobsaware.co.uk/jobseeking-advice
Advice from Which? on avoiding recruitment scams: www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/job-scams

The Scam
There are still reports of scam text messages targeting those who use Apple Pay. The messages, similar to the one pictured on the left, say that your account has been suspended.

You are asked to click on a link to update your details – this leads to a legitimate-looking webpage with Apple branding that claims that Apple Pay has been suspended on your device and that you can continue to make contactless purchases once you reactivate your wallet. You are then asked to enter your personal and account details and possibly financial information.

How to Avoid

If you receive an unexpected message about your Apple account, don’t click on any links.
If you have clicked on a link, never enter your account information on websites linked from these messages, and never download or open attachments included within them.

Apple advises that, if you receive an email asking you to update your account or payment information, you should only do so via Settings directly on your device or via iTunes or the App Store. You should only update your password via Settings on your device or at appleid.apple.com.

Apple will never ask you to share your Apple ID password or verification codes in order for them to provide support.

Find out More
Advice from Apple on avoiding scams: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204759
Advice from Which? on avoiding Apple scams: https://computing.which.co.uk/Apple-scams-and-how-to-avoid-them

The Little Book of Big Scams

The Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) has launched the Little Book of Big Scams in partnership with Police Scotland and the Royal Bank of Scotland. The book explains some of the most common scams in Scotland and provides essential advice to help you avoid them.

Online fraud and scams in Scotland have increased 69% since 2011/12, according to the Recorded Crime in Scotland Survey.

Three of the main targets for scammers are:

Holidays – online scammers are exploiting pressures on the travel industry and may advertise accommodation and other travel services that do not exist.
Ticketing fraud – the return of sports and music events has led to the return of these scams, where criminals offer tickets for sale that do not exist or are fake.
Scam mail – emails or letters advertising amazing deals, offers or competitions, which usually do not exist.
Find out More

Download and print The Little Book of Big Scams here: cyberfraudcentre.com/Little-Book-of-Big-Scams-Scottish-Business-Resilience-Centre.pdf