12/10/2024
Marnhull Messenger Column October 2024
STAYSAFE
This month QR code, pension and bank scams.
QR Codes
Quick Response Codes (more commonly known as QR codes) are two-dimensional barcodes that provide a link to an online destination such as a website, app or download link. They are hyperlinks in image form.
To use a QR code point your phone camera at the shape and your device will act as a scanner. A message with a clickable link will pop up on your mobile, allowing you access to a website with more information.
Anybody can create and share a QR code using a mobile app or website. As QR codes become more prevalent. Cybercriminals have already begun to exploit them by embedding malicious links in them. In recent months councils around the UK including Dorset have reported that fake QR codes have been stuck on their parking signs as part of termed “quishing” scams. The codes lead drivers to a fraudulent website where, instead of paying for their parking, the driver actually shares their payment details and information with scammers.
If you notice a QR code has been stuck on a parking meter don’t use it. If you have any concerns, call the car park provider’s phone number instead.
Pension Scams
The insurance company LV have released some worrying research findings. approximately one in seven – or 7.3 million – UK adults have been the subject of an attempted pension scam in the past 12 months. These people were encouraged via unsolicited calls, texts and emails to transfer or release money from their pension.
The research was conducted as part of the LV= Wealth and Wellbeing Research Programme, a quarterly survey based on the responses of 4,000 people.
The City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau revealed that there were almost 100,000 victims of pension and investment fraud between 2020 and 2023, with victims typically losing an average of £26,773 to scammers.
How to spot a pension scam:
• Pension cold calls are illegal. Assume that any unsolicited calls are from a scammer. The same goes for emails, text messages or visits. A legitimate company will never call you out of the blue.
• Asking you to make a quick decision is always a warning sign of any type of scam. Paperwork sent to your door by courier for a signature 'to speed things up' should always ring alarm bells.
• Promising low risk and high returns. Scammers may promise high rates of return on your money, If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Beware offers of a ‘free pension review’. Companies offering free reviews won’t be authorised and investments sold as part of a review will be dubious at best or an outright scam.
• Avoid companies providing ‘help’ to release cash from your pension. You can only take money from your pension when you’re 55 or older, except in certain cases, such as poor health. You may be liable to a hefty tax bill if you release money earlier.
Bank Scams
I’m aware of several people who have lost money due to bank scams recently. One of the most worrying is where you receive a call pertaining to be from your bank’s security department. They tell you that fraudsters have attempted to access your account but were stopped by bank security. They then ask for your help to ensure your account is fully secured. This is simply an attempt to gain information from you which they will then use to try to access your account. These scammers rely on instilling fear in those they target in the hope that they will be encouraged to give information away.
If you ever receive a call, e-mail or text of this kind and are concerned just contact your bank directly on the phone number on your bank card or statement.
