The Isle of Wight Against Scams Partnership has issued a weekly update on scams that have come to light in the local community over the past week.
Islanders are being urged to be very wary of any unsolicited phone calls, emails and texts and to remember to never click on links in any messages!
Trading Standards have received reports of some common scams doing the rounds again:
- Phone calls from BT Openreach to say they are in your area and there is a problem with your line and asking you to log into your laptop/PC and download an app – Don’t, this is a scam.
- Scam Texts and Calls purporting to be HMRC. Sometimes they will indicate that you are entitled to a refund, other times they can be particularly intimidating accusing you of owing money and threatening arrest if you don’t do what they say. Both are scams – HMRC will never contact you in this way.
- Phone call saying that your National Insurance number has been compromised and asking you to press 1 – Don’t, this is a scam. They will try to gain your personal and or banking information – simply hang up.
- Whatsapp message advising you that there is a scam going around called Martinelli and telling you to share this with your contacts so that nobody falls victim to it – the actual Whatsapp message is the scam and is designed to mine as much contact information as it can for future scams – Don’t share it just delete it.
You can report scams online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or on the phone – 0300 123 2040. Phishing emails can be forwarded to [email protected]. Scam texts can be forwarded to 7726.
If you have a vulnerable relative, friend or neighbour you should share this information with them – it could save them from falling victim to one of these, or any other scam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go-p7wsFVvU
