Episode 15

Online it’s a battle - we change our passwords and update our security but the cyber criminals are always looking for new ways to trick us. Clifford from Swansea is in his seventies and admits he’s no expert when it comes to computers. In September 2016 a pop up virus warning filled his computer screen, telling him to call the number in the message. In a panic, he rang the number and allowed the man on the other end of the phone to remotely access his computer. He was then charged £220 for the ‘service’ provided.

A few months later he was targeted again, by a different company but more virus protection – this time paying £350. Then a couple of weeks later he received yet another phone call, but this time instead of asking for money, the caller was offering to refund him. The caller then took advantage of Clifford’s confusion, telling him he’d accidentally transferred too much money into his account. He said he would lose his job if Clifford didn’t pay back £3000, half by money transfer and half in itunes vouchers. “I thought, if he was going to lose his job, what can I do, can I help him at all?”, Clifford explained. “You do feel as though you’ve been hypnotised by them and you are completely out of control of yourself”.

Police are now investigating Clifford’s case, but stories like his are becoming increasingly common.

Here’s a list of useful websites if you are concerned about being scammed online and want to know more about how to protect yourself:

http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ ActionFraud is the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre.

https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/ Take Five is a national campaign that offers straight-forward and impartial advice to help everyone protect themselves from preventable financial fraud. This includes email deception and phone-based scams as well as online fraud.

https://www.getsafeonline.org/ Get Safe Online is the UK’s leading source of unbiased, factual and easy-to-understand information on online safety.

http://www.google.co.uk/safetycenter/everyone/cybercrime/ Google advice on how to avoid scams.

http://www.met.police.uk/docs/little-book-cyber-scams.pdf The police have published a booklet called the ‘Little book of Cyber Scams’ which has lots of useful information and advice. Here is the e-version.

RANSOMWARE

A new cyber scam, where scammers install malicious software on your computer or server without your knowledge. It’s designed to encrypt and block access to prevent you from viewing any of your computer files. The scammers will hold your files to ransom, demanding payment from you on the promise that if you pay up, they will return your computer to normal. In reality, even if you pay, there is no guarantee that your files will be un-encrypted – you could even find that you are asked to pay more money.

More information on ransomware can be found here: https://www.nomoreransom.org/

Buy with Confidence is a scheme which provides consumers with a list of local businesses who have given their commitment to trading fairly. Every business listed has undergone a series of detailed checks before being approved as a member of the scheme. The checks are very thorough and include checking insurance policies, membership of trade associations, qualifications, criminal records and credit history. Only when all these areas are deemed to meet the standards expected are companies allowed to join the scheme and display the Buy with Confidence logo. Customer feedback is also verified by the scheme before being displayed on the website. Anglesey Trading Standards were the first to adopt the scheme in Wales as a solution to a growing problem with Rogue traders targeting elderly residents in the area. Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd and Wrexham local authorities are also now on board.

To find out more about Buy with confidence and how it’s operating in your area, click here: https://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/