Anti-fraud agents warn public about 'get rich quick' investment scams after Nottinghamshire The victims lost enormous sums of money.
In recent months, Nottinghamshire Police have received dozens of reports from people who have been victims of advance payments. fraud.
This is where scammers promise an individual something valuable in exchange for paying a specific amount of money up front.
When the target pays, they may be asked for a series of additional fees or the scammer may simply disappear, leaving the victim thousands of pounds out of pocket.
New data reveals that 41 cases were reported to Nottinghamshire Police in July, significantly more than in May and June, when 30 and 28 cases were reported respectively.
In one case, a woman in her 60s was scammed out of ยฃ24,000 in an online cryptocurrency scam. The victim told officers that she clicked on an advertisement for a bitcoin investment scheme that appeared to be promoted by financial journalist and broadcaster Martin Lewis.
After entering her details, someone immediately called her and told her they would put her in touch with a financial advisor who would do the work for her. She was told she would be charged ยฃ250 for the adviser's work, which she paid.
He then invested several sums of money and downloaded an app to see how much profit he was making. But in reality, his balance was empty and he had simply been looking at the rates of various cryptocurrencies.
In another scam, an elderly couple paid ยฃ56,000 over a seven-month period, also believing they were investing in bitcoins. But again, this was a scam, with the couple saying they had fallen in love because the person on the other end of the phone had been "very polite and persuasive."
In a third case, a vulnerable woman was almost defrauded out of ยฃ70,000 in similar circumstances. Fortunately, her bank stopped this after she successfully invoked a banking protocol.
Detective Sergeant Tara Clapperton, from Nottinghamshire Police's fraud team, urged people to think very carefully before investing in scams advertised online.
She said: โInvestment fraud is prevalent across the UK and is sadly destroying many lives.
โWith the cost of living crisis still at the forefront of everyone's minds, there is the potential for more people to fall victim to this devastating type of fraud as they try to find a way to earn quick financial returns to help pay the bills. .
โWhile criminals are now using social media to target people with fake investment opportunities, 'typical' cold calling tactics have not gone away either, so we should not be complacent and remain alert to these types of approaches.
โIf someone you don't know contacts you and suddenly asks you to invest or send them money, you should treat them with caution. Don't let yourself be pressured or rushed into something you're not sure about, and remember: if it's too good to be true, it probably is!
โAlways be on your guard and take the time to do thorough research before deciding to invest any amount of money. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Follow Take Fiveโs advice to stop fraud as it will help protect you and your money.โ
How to spot the signs and protect yourself:
- Before you decide to invest, always do your research and don't let anyone rush you. Only criminals will pressure you to make a quick decision. Stop, take time to think, and consult trusted friends and family before parting with your money.
- Be careful if you are asked to change money to cryptocurrency to invest or make a payment using cryptocurrency. This is often a tactic used by scammers.
- Please note that some approaches to investment opportunities may arise through social media. Always conduct additional research to verify the validity of such an opportunity.
- Scammers are known to hack social media accounts to promote fake investments. If you are making an investment based on a recommendation from a friend or family member sent through social media, verify that it was sent by them.
- Scammers often create professional-looking websites and use fake business locations to give an impression of legitimacy.
- Never let anyone take control of your phone or computer for any reason. A reputable company would never do this.
- Check the FCA website to see if an investment business is authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority.
People are urged to follow Take Five's advice to stop fraud:
- ARREST: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep it safe
- CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It's okay to decline, decline, or ignore any request. Only criminals will try to rush you or panic you.
- PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you have fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.
If you believe you have been a victim of fraud you should report it online to Action Fraud, which is the UK's national fraud reporting centre, by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
It is also important to report all fraud-related incidents to Action Fraud to help build a national image and help prevent others from falling victim to scams.
