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Honest Joh
phishing hooks
Honest John Vans is urging builders to be vigilant as criminals target van drivers in a new wave of scam emails, text messages and phone calls.
Have you received a text message or email from a government department, promising you a road tax refund? If so, you might be the target of a new criminal crime wave that’s sweeping parts of the UK. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute has reported a huge surge in scams, with the costof-living crisis prompting criminals to target people with fake text messages and emails.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has recorded a significant increase in criminal activity, with a new survey showing that half of all adults interviewed had received a “phishing” communication in the past month. Not to be confused with the popular water sport, ‘phishing’ occurs when criminals pretend to represent a Government department (like the DVLA or HMRC). Some scammers may claim to be someone from your bank or building society.
The scam usually involves a text message or email that will try to trick you into revealing personal information or banking details. In some cases, the scammer will call, claiming to be from your bank, saying you’ve been subject to
© weerapat1003/Adobe Stock attempted fraud and insisting that you transfer your money into a new account. More than 40 million people were targeted by scammers in 2021, according to Citizens Advice. According to the report by the ONS, the telephone-operated Crime Survey of England and Wales discovered a nine-fold rise in “advance fee fraud” (where victims are asked to make an upfront payment for goods or services which don’t exist) and a 57% increase in consumer and retail fraud from pre-pandemic levels.
WARNING! Phishing scams will purport to be from government departments. Here’s some potential examples:
DVLA-UK: You can now check your eligibility for a road tax refund.
GOV-UK: Your business is eligible for a new government support grant scheme.
HMRC: Your business is eligible for a VAT rebate. You have 30 days to claim.
© anut21ng Stock/Adobe Stock
Daniel Powell of Honest John Vans
QHow can I protect myself from scams and phishing?
Government departments like the DVLA will not offer a VED road tax refund over the phone or by text or email. Likewise, your bank or building society will never email, text or phone you to ask for payment or to process a refund.
If you receive a phone call from someone who claims to represent a financial or Government department, note the details of the call and then say you will call them back.
You should then contact the organisation directly to confirm the call is genuine. You can find the contact details for all Government departments and banks online. Do not use the contact details that have been provided by the suspected scammer.
QWhat should I do if I think I’ve passed personal information to a scammer?
Report it to your bank or building society. If you have passed personal information or money to a scammer, report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040. You can also report spam texts and phone calls to Ofcom.
