Protecting yourself from scam calls is crucial in today’s digital age, where fraudulent activities continue to rise, especially in the UK. Scam callers often pose as legitimate entities, such as banks, government agencies, or service providers, to deceive individuals into providing personal information or money. To safeguard yourself from falling victim to such scams, it’s essential to adopt various preventive measures and remain vigilant. The following tips and advice will help you to protect yourself from scam calls.
Indian Scammers
A Majority of scam calls come from Indian call centers located in Mumbai, India. Most scammers who work for these companies are highly skilled at exploiting money from innocent people. The people who work for these companies have no shame, morals, or ethics.
If someone calls you with an Indian accent from Micorsoft, Amazon, The Bank, HMRC, Police, Governemt, Gas, electicy or delivery company asking you for your bank account details or requesting that you dowload an app to your phone.
- DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DEATILS
- DO NOT DOWNLOAD THE APP TO YOUR PHONE
- TERMINATE THE CALL WITH THEM
What are some common types of phone scams
It can be hard to tell the difference between a scam and cold calling. But, it’s good to know some common scams so you can be prepared.
Bank scams
Watch out for calls supposedly from your bank about fraudulent use of your bank account or bank cards. Scammers might ask you for your PIN and tell you to give your bank card to a courier. Your bank would never do this.
Undercover police scams
These can be calls from someone claiming to be the ‘undercover police’, claiming that they’re investigating a member of staff at your bank and asking for your card details. The police would never ask you to take part in an investigation like this.
Computer or mobile phone repair scams
The person may call and tell you that your device has a virus and that you need to download software to fix it. This is spyware – an unwanted program that runs on your device and can give scammers access to all your online information.
HMRC scams
You may get a call from someone claiming to be from HMRC saying there’s an issue with your tax refund or an unpaid tax bill. They may leave a message and ask you to call back. HMRC would never contact you this way and would never ask you to reveal personal financial information such as your bank account details.
Council Tax scams
Calls claiming to be about correcting your Council Tax band or giving you a Council Tax rebate. Your council would never call you about a rebate out of the blue.
Compensation calls
This is a call from a company asking about a car accident you’ve supposedly had claiming you may be entitled to compensation. Don’t engage in these calls. If you’ve had an accident, call your own insurance company on the phone number provided on your policy.
Texts with fake links
You might receive a text asking you to follow a link to fix a problem with one of your accounts or to track a parcel. These links will often take you to a fake website and get you to log in, which scammers can then use to access your information.
Telephone Preference Service scams
Watch out for calls asking you to pay to renew your membership of the Telephone Preference Service. The service is free and any calls asking you to pay for it are scams.
Pension or debt management offers
Be wary of cold calls or texts from strange numbers offering products or services, such as pension or debt management.
Sales and investment calls
These are unwanted or pushy sales calls, or investment opportunities that seem too good to be true.
Watch Out For These Red Flags
If someone calls you out of the blue and uses one of these tactics they will be a scammer.
High-Pressure Tactics
Scammers often use high-pressure tactics, creating a sense of urgency to manipulate victims into making quick decisions. Be wary of callers who insist on immediate action or threaten consequences.
Too Good to Be True Offers
If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers often lure victims with promises of large sums of money, free prizes, or exclusive deals to exploit their trust.
Unusual Requests for Payment
Legitimate entities rarely demand payment via unconventional methods such as gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Be cautious if a caller insists on these payment methods.
Unexpected Calls from Official Authorities
Be skeptical of unexpected calls claiming to be from official authorities, such as the police, tax agencies, or government departments. Verify their legitimacy by independently contacting the relevant organization through official channels.
How Do I Protect Myself From Scam Calls
The following helpful tips and advice will protect you from scam callers
Caller ID Verification
Always verify the identity of the caller before providing any personal or financial information. Legitimate organizations will not mind if you ask for a callback number or additional information to confirm their authenticity.
Use Call Blocking Apps
Take advantage of call-blocking apps available for smartphones. These apps can identify and block known scam numbers, reducing the likelihood of falling victim to fraudulent calls.
Register with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS)
Register your phone number with the TPS, a free service that aims to reduce unsolicited marketing and scam calls. While it may not eliminate all scam calls, it can significantly reduce their frequency.
Educate Yourself
Stay informed about common scams circulating in the UK. Knowledge of prevalent tactics helps in recognizing red flags and enhances your ability to avoid falling prey to fraudulent schemes.
Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Calls
Treat unsolicited calls with caution, especially if the caller requests personal or financial information. Legitimate organizations will not demand such details over the phone without proper authentication processes.
Reporting Scam Calls
If you encounter a potential scam call, it is crucial to report the incident to the appropriate authorities. In the UK, you can take the following steps:
- Report to Action Fraud: Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting center for fraud and cybercrime. Report scam calls online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
- Forward Suspicious Texts: If you receive suspicious text messages, forward them to 7726 (SPAM) to help mobile network providers identify and block fraudulent messages.
Protecting oneself from scam calls in the UK requires a combination of vigilance, education, and proactive measures. By understanding common scams, adopting preventive measures, recognizing red flags, and reporting incidents to the appropriate authorities, individuals can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to fraudulent schemes. Staying informed and maintaining a cautious approach to unsolicited communications are key components of a robust defense against scam calls in the digital age.