Fraud and scams

Beware of these scams,  Don’t share your bank details or click on links you don’t know.

  • TV licensing – only do not reply emails or texts are valid
  • HMRC – tax rebate email or text is a scam
  • Department of Education requesting bank details to get your free school meals is a scam

InformationNOW has a cyber scams article.

It can be difficult to know how to handle a situation when you are approached by an unknown person or organisation who tries to sell you something or persuade you to give them money or your personal details. This could be through cold calling, doorstep callers, email, telephone, text or by post.

Taking sensible precautions can help make yourself less likely to be a victim of fraud or scams. You can check with Trading Standards online to see if the organisation or company is registered.


How can I protect myself against fraud and scams?

Always stop, think and be sceptical before signing anything or handing over any money. If an exciting offer seems too good to be true, think about the following warning signs and ask yourself if it is a scam:


Warning signs to be aware of:

  • was the offer unasked for?
  • are you being pressurised or hurried?
  • are you being contacted in a unexpected way? For a example a telephone call for a supposed unpaid bill when you are normally contacted by letter?
  • do you have to pay for a prize or ‘free’ gift?
  • do you have to ring a premium rate number (one starting with ’09’)?
  • are you being asked for your bank or credit card details?
  • are you being asked to purchase gift cards to pay the company?
  • are you being asked for your personal details, birth date, address or passwords?
  • is the business reluctant to give you its address or contact details?
  • are you being asked to keep the offer confidential?
  • if it is a telephone call, when you answer the phone does it take a little while for the call to connect? If so, this might suggest it is an electronic sales call
  • when you answer the phone is it a pre-recorded message rather than a real person talking?
  • if it is an email or text, are you being asked to ‘click a link’ within the email to log in or re enter your personal details? Your bank would never ask you to enter all of your personal details on a text or email. If in doubt contact your bank directly.

Don’t be afraid to say ‘no thank you’

If you are cold-called, don’t be afraid to say ‘no thank you’. If in doubt, you should take time to research the company and get some independent advice.

You can contact:

  • The National Trading Standards Scams Team has secured government funding to provide free* call blocking units to help protect people in receipt of scam or nuisance phone calls and feel their circumstances may make them more likely to fall for a scam during the Covid 19 pandemic.  TrueCall Call Blocker is like having a home receptionist who lets calls from your friends and family straight through, blocks unwelcome callers, and asks unrecognised callers to identify themselves before it puts them through. This gives you peace and quiet at home. (suspended during coronavirus)
  • Telephone Preference Service (TPS)  to register your telephone and mobile number to stop receiving nuisance sales calls and text messages.
  • Action Fraud – report Fraud & Internet Crime and Northumbria Police if the worst happens and you are a victim of a scam or if you think you have been targeted.

Courier Fraud Scams

Please be aware of a telephone scam where callers pretend to be police or, HMRC or bank workers. They will try to tell you that there are serious problems with your bank accounts.

During the telephone conversation they will try to convince you to withdraw large sums of money or hand over your payment card details. The caller will then arrange for a ‘bogus courier’ to visit your home to collect your money or bank cards.  If you receive such a call hang up immediately and report the issue to 101.  

If you have already made arrangements for a ‘courier’ to visit your property contact the police immediately.

Steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim:

  • be aware that fraudsters often try to hold your phone line open. This means that when you try to make another phone call after hanging up they intercept and re-answer the call, claiming to be the bank or police.
  • to avoid this, use a different phone such as mobile phone to call the police. Where a second phone line is not available, try calling a family or friend as the fraudster will find it difficult to impersonate a voice that you recognise easily.
  • never disclose your PIN, banking log-in information or card reader codes to anyone, even if the caller claims to be from the bank or police. Remember, banks NEVER call and ask you to disclose these security details. End the call immediately.
  • if you receive a suspicious or unexpected call, always verify the caller by taking their phone number and getting it checked independently.

Bogus callers

Bogus callers are people who come to your door and pretend to be someone they are not, like a workman, or someone from a utility company. Such callers could be looking to commit a distraction burglary: they want to trick their way into your home in order to steal. Always be cautious about any unknown man, woman, or child who comes to your door, without arranging it with you first

You may feel rude refusing entry to someone who comes to your door, but it is your doorstep and, therefore, your decision. If you doubt whether someone is genuine, you should avoid giving them any personal details and don’t let them into your home.


Report a scam

If the worst happens and you are a victim of a scam or if you think you have been targeted contact Action Fraud – report Fraud & Internet Crime

Contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline 03454 04 05 06 or Textphone: 18001 03454 04 05 06

If you know the scam has come from abroad, you should report it to econsumer.gov

If you feel that you are in immediate danger please call the Emergency Services on 999 or contact Northumbria Police


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Last updated: December 7, 2023