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Heartless conmen are targeting hard-up households and stealing money and identities using convincing texts and messages.
Experts have warned people to be on their guard, amid concern that the cost of living crisis may lead to an increase in the number of people falling victim to scams out of desperation. In one recent case, O2 managed to lock a criminal out of their customer’s account as she was on the brink of having £1,049 stolen, after scammers targeted the mobile company’s customers by pretending to apply discounts to their accounts.
Mitchell Baxter, personal finance expert guru from Vouchers.co.uk says, “With the cost of living crisis putting millions of Brits out of pocket, more are likely to fall for circulating scams that are aiming to exploit the vulnerable. The best advice we can give is if the offer seems too good to be true, it usually is. To check an offer’s authenticity, close down the application whether it be a call or a text and access the relevant account on a different device. If your offer is valid, the customer service team at whichever business will be able to verify this or confirm if it’s a scam.”
Read more: Energy companies announce how customers will get £400 rebate this winter
The four most common cost-of-living cons currently doing the rounds are:
1. Fake cost of living payment texts
As householders wait for the cost of living payments due to be applied to energy bill accounts, starting next month, scammers are targeting victims with texts claiming to be from Ofgem, asking people to apply for their £400 rebate. If the victim clicks on a link to enter their bank details, they could risk losing all of their bank balance.
The real rebate does not need to be applied for, and will be paid automatically by your energy company.
2. Facebook Marketplace scam
Families looking for a cheap car may be vulnerable to to Facebook Marketplace scams. Drivers are warned to steer clear of car scammers offering vehicles at too-good-to-be-true prices. Motorists are often asked to send a deposit to ‘hold the car’ before buying. But the car may not even exist or not be legitimately for sale. After paying the holding fee, which could be up to £1,500, scammers will typically remove the post..
3. Royal Mail con
If you’re expecting a delivery, pay close attention to any text messages you receive from your couriers. Criminals are posing as delivery companies and requesting additional payment for delivery. A seemingly innocent text message from Amazon or Royal Mail can look convincing at first glance, but if it includes links for personal information, steer clear.
4. Food voucher emails
Emails are circulating with vouchers claiming to be from supermarkets, offering shoppers £45 off their next grocery shop. But when customers click the link in the email, they’re directed to an official looking phishing website specifically designed to steal login credentials and purchase information.
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