There’s a lot of it about as fraudsters adapt to the current situation…
As free TV licences for those of us over 75 ended on 31st July please do not respond to any emails that appear to come from TV licensing. They are scams. Payment requests from TV Licensing will only be sent by post and it is going to take several months to write to everyone concerned.
Here are three excellent publications from the Thames Valley Police (TVP)
They link to the TVP website so you will always see the latest version: click on the blue links or on the book images to open in a new tab or page
They are all Pdf files, so you can download them. Click on the links in the publications for further advice and how to report Scams. Do share this page http://wallingfordu3a.org/scams-top-tips & these publications with everyone & anyone you know would benefit.
The Little Leaflet of CYBER ADVICE by Thames Valley Police
Little tip: When someone forwards you a funny joke or picture, & it displays all the email addresses of everyone who’s forwarded it on, then make sure you strip out all email addresses before forwarding. Consider sending to groups of people as blind copy (Bcc).
Better still don’t forward at all – scammers often start these chain emails aimed at a specific audience with a code embedded in the text or image that sends your data back to the spammer. Or the chain email finally comes to a spammer who gains a rich crop of active emails. Active email lists are sold on for big profit.
And thats when your Spam folder starts to fill up…
The Little Booklet of PHONE SCAMS by Thames Valley Police
Little Tip: Before hanging up, tell them you haven’t got a car/computer/house, tell them you don’t drive, have no money, your pension has long since gone. My favourite is to tell them I don’t have a telephone and am surprised to get phone calls…
Whatever they’re interested in, they will lose interest and you’ll tend to get less scam phone calls.
Just say it and hang up, don’t get into conversation.
The Little Book of BIG SCAMS by Thames Valley Police
Gloria Hunniford fronts up this book. See what she says in the preface below….
Big scam going round is phone calls & texts pretending to be from NHS Track & Trace asking for details of contacts details and/or payment for having the Covid-19 test. Another is aimed at accusing people going out when they’re in quarantine then demanding they pay a fine.
Another is fake or non-existent PPE.
If you want more in depth advice on all manner of modern Frauds then click for
Take care, stay safe and,
above all,
be well-informed!