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Doorstep Scams
Horsham builder defrauded residents out of tens of thousands of pounds
3rd October 2023
West Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards brought the case against 32-year-old Samuel Luke Kwame Noye, of Millthorpe Road in Horsham, who traded under the name Direct Property Maintenance.
Lewes Crown Court, sitting at Brighton on September 28, heard that Noye’s five victims from Horsham and Crawley, aged between 48 and 78, were defrauded out of tens of thousands of pounds. The biggest loss was £21,300 with many victims also having to pay out more to have the work put right. more
Winter related door-step scams and how to avoid them
2nd October 2023
With winter on its way, many householders will be thinking of carrying out maintenance work ahead of the bad weather. Rogue tradesmen know this, and residents are being urged to be very careful when approached by door-to-door salespeople.
The warning comes from Northumberland’s Public Protection Trading Standards team who are asking residents to be vigilant, and to look out for elderly and vulnerable family members and neighbours too. more
Telephone Scams
Warning as UK student scammed out of £200K - 5 ways to prevent scam
4th October 2023
Police have shared five ways to help prevent being scammed after a student in the UK recently lost thousands of pounds by men pretending to be police officers. A woman was scammed out of £200,000 - as police urge members of the public to be "scam aware."The Chinese student, based in Northern Ireland, said someone rang her phone and alleged that she had been linked to money laundering.
Two other men, pretending to be officers from "Beijing Police" threatened her with an arrest if she didn't stump up the money. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the woman transferred the funds and never heard from the men again. more
‘I lost £240,000’: UK fraud victims share their stories
7th October 2023
Criminals continue to find new ways to convince people into handing over their cash, with some types of fraud, such as identity theft, recently hitting all-time highs.
On a daily basis, Guardian Money hears from people who have fallen victim to criminals and are desperate for our help. The sums involved can range from less than £100 to six figures, and, in some unfortunate cases, people have lost their life savings.
According to the banking trade body UK Finance, criminals stole more than £1.2bn from UK consumers in 2022 – equivalent to more than £2,300 every minute – which the organisation described as “a staggering figure”. more
Online Scams
DWP issues urgent £300 cost of living payment November 2023 scam warning
5th October 2023
Around eight million households will begin to recieve the money from the end of October - but the Department for Work and Pensions says criminals will target people set to get the boost.
The DWP has spoken out about criminals who are known to be targeting those who might be about to receive the money - and trying to get cash out of them and personal details. The Government emphasises that people don’t need to apply - if you’re eligible you should get it automatically because the benefits system already knows what they get. more
London romance fraud victim shares her story as figures show £92m toll of scams
2nd October 2023
A London woman has shared her experience of being manipulated by romance fraud - as figures reveal more than £92m has been lost to such scams nationally in the last year.
Emmanuel Scotts, 55, from Fulham, was jailed for 12 years in November for “callously” scamming a number of women he met on an online dating website out of more than £320,000. more
