Unfortunately, scams are commonplace, and scammers are using technology to make it more difficult to spot them.
According to Citizens Advice, 9 million people were caught out by scams in the UK last year. Scams can be devastating, with the effects ranging from confusion and stress to damage to your finances. And as scams are getting more sophisticated than ever, it’s really important to understand how to identify them, for both yourself and your loved ones.
Email scams
Email scams are incredibly common. While most email providers have excellent filters that reroute scam emails into your spam box, sometimes a convincing-looking email will slip through.
The key thing to remember is to slow down when you’re reading. I’m always reading emails on the move, which means I’m more likely to rush through and not spot small details. But small details are usually what give scam emails away.
You might see the following:
- Spelling mistakes.
- Unusual email addresses, or email addresses that don’t match the sender.
- An odd ‘tone’ to the email – for example, if the tone feels too casual to be from your bank or workplace, or too familiar to be official.
- Exaggerated, too-good-to-be-true offers (like ‘click here for your free iPad!’).
- Repeated links, asking you to visit an external website (you can also hover over the link to see where it goes – this way you can see if it matches what you would expect the URL to be).
- A false sense of urgency.
- Requests for personal data.
If you open a scam email, don’t worry. But you should never click on suspicious-looking links, and never download any attachments from a sender you don’t trust.
Shops
Some online shops can hide scams behind a legitimate-looking facade. Here’s what to look for:
- Too-good-to-be-true offers. No-one is going to give you a laptop if you buy a bar of soap, for example.
- Pressure. Unnecessary pressure is a common theme for scams – they may be insistent that you check out right now.
- An unsafe URL. Look at the address – if it’s https://, that means it will be a secure connection. An unusual URL (like, for example, newlook.bonus.com when you’re expecting newlook.com) is something to look out for too.
- No returns policy. A returns policy is something you should always check for.
- AI-generated product videos. There are many AI-generated product scams happening at the moment – this video by the YouTuber Pleasant Green goes into some examples. If the video looks fake, don’t buy.
Text messaging/WhatsApp
My parents have been hit with fake WhatsApp messages and texts recently. It’s alarming how realistic they were.
Some common scams include:
The ‘I need help’ message
You might get a message that says ‘Hi mum. My phone broke so I have a different number. I need help.’ If you go down the road of messaging back, the texter will eventually ask you for money.
Don’t respond – instead, call the person or try to get hold of them by other means to check. But be wary. AI is enabling scam artists to go even deeper, sometimes faking voice calls or even video calls. Look closely, listen closely, and when you can, verify in person.
The ‘you’ve missed a delivery’ message
Scam texts looking almost exactly like Yodel, InPost, or Hermes are becoming more and more common. You may get a message stating that you’ve missed a delivery, and they usually contain a link.
You can spot these because they’ll come from a different phone number, and they’ll contain a link that doesn’t look like an official Royal Mail/courier website.
They may also contain spelling or grammar mistakes, and they may say something like URGENT! Or RESPOND NOW.
The HMRC/tax message
You may get an urgent, worrying-sounding message from someone claiming to be HMRC, usually telling you that you owe money, or that you’re due a rebate.
The HMRC website has a useful list of scam examples that you can check if you do get one of these messages.
Phone calls
I get a lot of these, and they’re very frustrating. Scam phone calls usually come from a number you don’t recognise. If you answer, you may hear a slight pause before someone speaks.
Unfortunately, again due to AI, these scams are becoming more sophisticated. Common scams include:
- Fake tech support – someone may call claiming that your device has been affected by malware.
- Investment scams – a caller may suggest that they have a huge business opportunity for you.
- Prize draw – a caller may suggest that you’ve won a lottery or a prize draw.
You can find a list of these common scams on Which?. If you do answer a call, never give your details to the caller. And if you feel unsure, don’t answer – Google the number instead. The website Who Called Me? allows you to check numbers you’re not familiar with.
Featured image: YuriArcurs, Canva
