Scam Messages
Zibiah Loakthar, our Cuimhne Coordinator writes:
There are many scam messages circulating these days on email and by mobile phone text message, some may be spottable, others may seem very plausible.
For instance, there have been a lot of text messages circulating from fraudsters claiming to be a postal delivery company asking us to visit a website to rearrange delivery of a parcel.
These might sound like genuine messages but we can then find ourselves being taken to a website and asked to enter personal details that the scammer wants to harvest.
Another common scam message circulating now is one informing us that we have been "in close proximity with someone who has been contagious with the latest variant and you need to order a test kit” with a link to click which takes us to a fake NHS website. It then asks for our bank details to cover the cost of the test kit.
Any one of us may fall for a scam message. It can be confusing to work out if a text message is a scam. Clicking on the links within the message out of curiosity or accidentally is easily done.
There is some useful information on how to check if a message may be scam and what to do if we think we have been scammed on the Citizens Advice website.
If we realise we have clicked on a scam link, good advice is to:
Immediately close the web page
Do not enter passwords or other personal information onto any page you have opened by clicking a link.
Reset any passwords you may have revealed.
If you have entered bank card details you can contact your bank to freeze your bank card.
Report the scam
Besides protecting ourselves from further risks and checking if we can get our money back, it is good to report the scam. There is some good advice on how to report different kinds of scam here.
Reporting scams to Action Fraud, the UK's national reporting centre for fraud can help to stop scams and help prevent others being scammed, report your scam message here.
Trading Standards can investigate and take court action against scammers.
Most phone providers are part of a scheme that allows customers to report a suspicious text message for free by forwarding it to 7726. Phone providers can investigate the origin of the text and arrange to block or ban the sender.
We may sometimes feel embarrassed and ashamed about falling for a scam and avoid talking to family and friends about it. But there is no call for embarrassment.
Talking and sharing experiences helps raise awareness about scams across the community. Talking may help reduce embarrassment, stress and worry.
There are also organisations we can talk to:
Victim Support offers free, confidential help from Victim Support if you have been affected by a scam. Their support line is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Call Victim Support for free on 08 08 16 89 111 or email them here.
The Samaritans runs a helpline 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Call the Samaritans for free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
Age UK offers free, confidential advice about scams. Their advice lines are open from 8am to 7pm, every day of the year.
Call Age UK for free on 0800 678 1602 or contact Age UK online here.
Within our Irish in Britain network, local community organisations and those providing advice and welfare services may also be good points of contact for support. You can look up organisations in our network that may be close to you here.
For anyone caring for someone living with dementia and thinking about steps to help protect them from fraud, do take a look at the recordings of Thoughtful Thursday sessions on Protecting Ourselves and Those We Care for From Fraud.
People can also become a Friend Against Scams, participate in training and turn knowledge gained about scams into action to take a stand against scams