Neighbourhood Watch want to update you with various telephone and email scams. Some have been circulating for a while and some are new ones. They all look and sound genuine so please stay vigilant and do not provide any personal and financial information to anyone unless you are sure who they are and that they have a legitimate reason to have your details.
1. Hermes email scam
Email stating that you have a missed delivery and in order for Hermes to deliver again, you are asked to provide bank details to pay for the £1.45 fees.
2. Royal Mail email scam
Email stating that Royal Mail has tried to deliver 3 times and ask you to pay £2.50 to arrange another delivery.
3. dpd Couriers email scam
Email stating that you have missed 2 attempted deliveries and you must pay £2.75 to arrange another delivery.
None of the delivery services would ask you to pay for arranging a delivery under normal circumstances. In the case where excess postage is required, the official Post Office Staff in his/her uniforms with Identifications would advise you what to do. If in doubt, please check with the company yourself before handing over any cash or personal and financial information.
4. National Insurance Telephone Scam
An automated voice states that your National Insurance number has been compromised to carry out criminal activities. You are asked to provide personal details to avoid arrests and prosecution.
5. HMRC Telephone Scam
An automated voice states that you have underpaid generally quite a large amount of tax like £2,000 and that you will be prosecuted if you do not pay the outstanding amount immediately.
6. Amazon Telephone Scam
An automated voice states that your Amazon account has been debited £349.95 incorrectly and if you provide the bank details, they will refund it to your account.
7. BT Telephone Scam
An automated voice says that if you do not provide the personal details, your line will be cut off.
All government agencies do not use automated voice services to inform you of a problem. They generally would write to you. If a person actually calls you in an unlikely event, you should always check carefully before divulging any personal information. These scams calls are usually from a mobile number.
Scammers are getting more sophisticated and professional looking and sounding. Please be very careful when providing any information to anyone you are not sure of!
