Recent Scams

There have been a large number of new scams recently including:

Census 2021

Green Homes Grant scam

Romance Fraud

TV licence scams

Coronavirus

HMRC phone calls

Age UK offer help and advice on a wide range of scams.

NHS Test and Trace – If NHS Test and Trace calls you by phone, the service will be using a single phone number 0300 0135 000. The only website the service will ask you to visit is https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk.

Contact tracers will never:

• Ask you to dial a premium rate number to speak to us (for example, those starting 09 or 087)
• Ask you to make any form of payment
• Ask for any details about your bank account
• Ask for your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts
• Ask you for any passwords or PINs, or ask you to set up any passwords or PINs over the phone
• Ask you to purchase a product
• Ask you to download any software to your device or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet
• Ask you to access any website that does not belong to the Government or NHS

Sale of vehicles – A number of incidents have been reported during the previous few days whereby cars for sale have been stolen. Suspects arrange to view a car for sale via Gumtree or Auto Trader. The suspects insist on seeing the inside of the vehicle and the seller is unable to accompany them due to social distancing rules. It is believed the suspects swap the key at this time in order to return later in the day to steal the vehicle.

Shopping voucher scams – emails are circulating that appear to come from supermarkets including Morrisons, Tesco and Aldi – please do not click any links.

Humberside Police – Scam advice letter

Humberside Police – Scam vehicle stop checks

Please watch out for scams;

• Don’t click on links or attachments in suspicious emails.
• Never respond to messages and calls that ask for your personal or financial details.
• Exercise the same caution that you normally would and don’t allow anyone unfamiliar into your property, even if they are offering help.
• To report a fraud or a scam: ActionFraud.police.uk / 0300 123 2040

If you need advice, call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133
If you are in immediate danger, contact the police on 999