Stay Safe Online – Recent Scams
Warning about Dodgy Spray Foam Insulation Salesmen
As energy prices rise, households are increasingly looking for ways to reduce energy costs and insulation spray foam sounds like a good option. But Which? warn of scammers – doorstep as well as phone and online – selling dodgy spray foam insulation.
Spray foam typically costs between £600 and £1100 but, due to safety issues, needs to be BBA approved and installed by a professional with BBA qualifications. It’s also important that the installation conforms with the manufacturer’s requirements, building regulations, and health and safety rules. All tradesmen should have a contract form with terms and conditions, and a proper address and phone number, so you can check that they really are who they say they are and are registered with the BBA (British Board of Agrément).
According to trueCall, a provider of call-blocking devices, insulation was one of the most common nuisance call topics last year. One victim bought spray foam for loft insulation for £3,500. They later found they had to pay £2,000 to remove it before they could sell the house. If you suspect someone is a dodgy trader, you can report them to Citizens Advice who can contact the Trading Standards authority.
What is a Romance Scam?
It’s when people meet through an online dating site, dating app or social media account like Facebook but scammers set up fake profiles and target charity Facebook pages for people discussing mental health, bereavement and ageing and they particularly target vulnerable people who have experienced a recent trauma – like divorce or bereavement.
They befriend people by playing on their emotions and use the person’s trust to get them to communicate via text messages or WhatsApp. But their profile is fake and, once they have gained a person’s trust, they request money or obtain enough personal information to steal their identity. Watch out for anyone who claims they work abroad or on an oil rig – and be really careful about sharing personal information and private pictures which can be used against you.
Sending money for travel costs in order to visit you might sound like a reasonable request but think about it – do you really want a relationship with someone who can’t even afford the train fare to come and meet you? Crypto currency apps feature in so many fraud cases that UK banks such as Chase, Starling and NatWest now block or limit bank transfers to cryptocurrency exchanges.
Which? discover that ‘Verified by Google’ is not always safe
Scammers have exploited Google’s advertiser vetting process and have managed to obtain ‘verified status’ to target the public with convincing fake ads. When you come across a verified advert, you can click the three dots (known as an ellipsis) to be reassured that you are dealing with a company you can trust. But scammers have managed to get around this security check. Which? discovered that an advertiser with the name ‘Vodafone finance Management’ had been verified by Google – but it has no affiliation with Vodafone.
If you have been affected by a scam – help is out there – Victim Support has a free confidential helpline 0808 168 9111 and so does Mind 0300 123 3393.
Report any scams to www.actionfraud.police.uk Sign up for Which? Scam alerts: https://campaigns.which.co.uk/scam-alert-service/ Find details of recent scams here: www.actionfraud.police.uk and on our Facebook page: Rainford-it-stay safe online
Published in the APRIL edition of The Whitchurch Gossip
And the APRIL edition of Oswestry Life