Criminals stole £753.9 million through fraud and scams in the first half of 2021, an increase of 30% compared to the first half of 2020.
Sadly, I've heard about several instances of attempted scams from Spend Time clients in recent weeks. Thankfully, no harm was done, but I thought this would be a timely reminder to stay vigilant, and a good opportunity to highlight the 159 service; Stop Scams UK.
159 has been set up by banks and telephone companies who want to fight fraud. You can reach them by simply dialling 159 from your phone, just like you would dial 999 for the emergency services.
Remember, 159 will never call you, but you can rely them to help you if you need them.
When should I call 159?
Call 159 if:
Someone contacts you saying they’re from your bank – even if they are not suspicious
You receive a call asking you to transfer money or make a payment – even if it seems genuine
You receive a call about a financial matter and it seems suspicious
You can find out more at the 159 website: https://stopscamsuk.org.uk/
As it's a fairly new service, we'd love to hear how you get on if you have cause to ring 159.
We're looking out for you.
Here at Spend Time we're doing everything we can to combat fraud and we have robust processes in place to help protect your money. We'd be delighted to chat with you and explain how we do this.
What to do if you think you have become a victim of fraud.
Many hundreds if not thousands of people will become the victim of fraud. If this happens to you, don’t be embarrassed. Scams are so complex and convincing these days, it can happen to even the most vigilant amongst us.
The first thing to do is act quickly. If you may have divulged your bank details or card details, contact your bank straight away. Please let us know too, so that we can be extra vigilant on your behalf, too. ActionFraud offer further advice here.
Where can I get more information about how to avoid being a victim of fraud?
You might find our previous article on fraud helpful, which you can find here.
Action Fraud also have an excellent website with lots of information available here: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
Keep well, and be vigilant.
Michael Roberts FPFS
Chartered Financial Planner and Director
Please note that the links above will take you to a site outside of Spend Time, and we are therefore not responsible for the content they contain.
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