Latest Scams - Age UK

Tips on creating a safe password* A three random word password is the most secure. It doesn’t have to be a complex string of uppercase and lowercase characters, symbols, and numbers. Length is enough. Eg running123 can be hacked in 3.6 seconds but something like: grinningskydivingoffer£33 can take 20million years to hack To check if your email or phone has been involved in a data breach, go to the website: https://haveibeenpwned.com *Advice from the Metropolitan Police Cyberawareness Team

How to protect yourself from romance scams - read here.

The stangest scams of 2023, according to Which? - click here for the story.

Age UK summary of the main types of scams - read here

Government advice on protecting yourself on social media - click here

The latest stats on the number of scams in Barnet here.

If you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money or personal details – stop, hang up and call 159 to speak directly to your bank. Find out more about this briliant service here.

The latest scams

Investment scams

More than three-quarters of a million people reported losing money to scams related to investments or pensions last year. To address this, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a new online Firm Checker Tool to check if a firm is legitimate. It's available on its website HERE. The FCA said that while using the tool won't remove all risk, using an authorised firm with the correct permissions will greatly reduce your risk of harm. All companies operating in the UK across financial products or services must be licensed and regulated by the FCA.

Deepfake calls

According to Which? scam calls using artificial intelligence (AI) to create or manipulate the caller’s voice were one of the most common scams on the Which? scam sharer tool in 2025. A survey commissioned by Hiya, a spam call protection company, revealed that a quarter of scam calls in the UK were powered by AI. Some of the most common versions of these scams included AI voices claiming they were from the police, bogus offers for phones and impersonations of bank staff and employees from HMRC and Amazon.

Always treat unexpected calls with caution and try to verify the caller before taking any action. This is especially important if you’re asked for money, sensitive information or to log into an account. If you know the number, you can search for it on Who Called Me.

Fake unpaid parking fine notices According to Which? scammers are continuing to send fake texts claiming people have been issued with a parking penalty notice (PCN) using spoofed mobile numbers and email addresses. The text tells you that you must pay a £20 parking fine and says that this is your final notice. It goes on to scare you by claiming that legal action could be taken against you if you don't pay and includes a malicious link to follow to make the payment. This will lead to a website impersonating the government's official site in order to get you to type in your personal and financial information. Councils do not send text messages about parking fines to residents. Parking fines are issued by civil enforcement officers via a PCN on the vehicle dashboard, or by post to the address of the vehicle’s registered keeper. Never give out any personal information or bank details to anyone you are not 100% sure about.

Watch out for fake 'energy support' scams

After the recent Winter Fuel Payment announcements, scammers have been busy impersonating the Department for Work and Pensions. Fake messages include scam links to websites designed to steal your personal and financial information. Which Magazine has founded up the various versions of this scams here The DWP never send text messages or emails requesting your bank details for winter fuel payment purposes. In most cases the payment is given automatically. The only people who need to claim are those who are of state pension age and have never received the payment before. They should contact DWP. Details of how to do that online - here.

Fake QR codes

Be aware of large QR codes that have been placed on top of some PayByPhone signage around the borough. These QR codes take you through to a fake website (parking sps) and asks for your bank details. This is a fake website - please make sure you are on the correct website or use your PayByPhone app. The Metropolitan Police are working to get these removed and identify the culprits. Which? magazine has pulled together tips on how to spot a QR code scam here.

Fake PayPal emails

Watch out for emails claiming to be from online payment syten PayPal saying you have bought a high value item such as an iPhone. The messages ask you to call a specific number if you did not make the purchase. But, once dialled, it will put you through to a scammer who will try to gather your personal information. Never give out any personal information or bank details to anyone you are not 100% sure about. If you think your account has been comprimised, change your password and security questions.

Scammers peddling dodgy spray foam loft insulation

As households continue to face high energy bills, scammers are targeting vulnerable people with dodgy, non-existent insulation and costly offers, according to Which? magazine. For example, one elderly victim paid more than £3,000 for dodgy spray foam insulation, which he later had to pay over £2,000 to remove before he could sell his house. Spray foam insulation has several disadvantages, including high cost and safety concerns, and it could even reduce your property's value.To minimise your risk of falling victim to this scam, here are five signs that a trader may be dodgy, according to Which? magazine.

Push Payment Fraud

Online banking makes managing money easier for the general public, however criminals are taking advantage of this ease of banking and using it to defraud the public. Criminals can pretend to be from somewhere official, for example, your bank, or the tax office. They contact you via email, phone or social media, and then warn you of fake suspicious or criminal activity on your bank account. They state that they’ve set up a safe account for you to transfer your funds into. However, this is actually their account.How to protect yourself Be suspicious of a call out of the blue from someone claiming to be from a position of authority. Take down the person’s details (name, authority, department, branch etc.) and verify usingindependent source contact details. A genuine official from the Police, your bank, HMRC or any other trusted authority will NEVER callyou to ask you to verify your personal banking details, PIN or password, or threaten you with arrest. Never transfer money into another account unless you are 100% certain of the owner of the account. Your bank will never set up a “safe” account for you. If you are a victim, contact your bank as soon as possible, as they may be able to help stop thetransfer. Watch our video on Impersonation Fraud at www.met.police.uk/littlemedia.REMEMBER – Your bank will never set up a “safe account”.CAUTION – Unless you definitely know who the account belongs to, it might not be safe.THINK – Who told me this account was safe? Have I checked their identity?

Switchover scams

Criminals are using the switchover from analogue to digital telephones to scam vulnerable people. From 2025 the old analogue copper telephone landline network will be switched to digital, meaning that all phone calls will go through the internet, and everyone will require broadband to make landline phone calls. Scams include calls claiming your bank details are needed as part of the switchover or their service will be disconnected.

Holiday scams

In 2022/23 there were 6,400 reports of holiday fraud and £15 million lost to scammers - click here for the most common holiday scams and how to protect yourself.

Parcel delivery fraud

This is the most common type of scam in the UK this year, accounting for 49 per cent of all scams, according to Citizens Advice research. Almost half of those targeted by scammers were involved in a malicious parcel delivery scam, with fraudsters seeking personal information or bank details.

Citizens Advice said several common scams involved a 'quite sophisticated' impersonation of official organisations. People targeted by parcel delivery scams received texts or emails from criminals claiming to be from a delivery company to reschedule or pay extra delivery fees. Others received false tracking information for items that never arrived after being purchased online.

If you’re expecting a delivery and you receive a ‘missed parcel’ message:

1. Do not click the link and never give out personal bank details.
2. Use the official websites of delivery companies to track your parcel.
3. Forward the message to 7726, a free spam-reporting service provided by phone operators. If you are not sure how to forward a text message from your particular device, search online for instructions.
4. Delete the message.

Doorstep scams

Nearly a fifth of adults were targeted in a doorstep scam over the last year, according to a study by home security company Ring. Fraudsters posed as energy suppliers, security staff and representatives of well-known brands in a bid to con victims. On average adults have been targeted four times over that period - losing on average £171 each time. The most prolific scams involved criminals falsely claiming to represent energy firms and selling goods at inflated prices.

Criminals can use deception to convince you: They may claim they are working on a neighbour's address, noticed you need work completed and theyhave left over materials. They may inspect areas you can’t access, for example the loft or roof and show you photos or videosclaiming they are evidence that you need the urgent repairs. Beware of these tactics as these imagesmay not even be your property. They may throw water down when you are not looking to indicate you have ‘damp’. They may be insistent you pay in cash immediately or put down a deposit, even offering to take youto the bank to get the money. If you do this, they may continue to find reasons for you to pay moremoney. Some callers will be legitimate. Gas, electricity and water companies may visit to read your meters.Charities may visit to ask for donations and council officials may contact you regarding local issues.Always ask for identification and tell them to wait outside whilst you check this by calling the companyor speaking to a relative or friend. If you are calling the company, don’t use the phone number on theperson’s ID card).How to protect yourself Always check their identity. If you are not happy about a person’s identity, do not let them into yourhouse under any circumstances. Take time to consider your options and research costs from other providers. If in doubt contact yourlocal Trading Standards. If you feel pressured by any cold caller, have the confidence to be firm and say no. Call the citizens advice consumer helpline following a doorstep caller on 03454 04 05 06.

Check out Action Fraud which has some useful advice on protecting yourself against doorstep scams - here.

M & S Golden Ticket Scam

This is a fake scam promising 500 lucky winners to received £100 to spend at M&S by liking the post on social media, according to a Scam Marshalls newsletter. The purpose of this scam (and others like it) is to gather people’s personal information to they can be targeted with more scams in the future. Scams Marshalls work with National Trading Standards to spread the word about the scams out there. Click here for their website and how to become a Scams Marshall.

Planning a holiday? – top tips

• Read online reviews from reputable sources to check websites are genuine
• Only use the secure payment method recommended by reputable online retailers
• Use a credit card if possible when making purchases over £100 and up to £30,000-you receive more protection

Facebook marketplace

Criminals are exploiting sellers by arranging delivery via a courier service. Once paid the delivery never happens and the profile will be uncontactable.

People's Postcode Lottery

Watch out for fake letters which claim that recipients have won thousands on the People’s Postcode Lottery. This scam letter includes the People’s Postcode Lottery logo and branding. It claims that your postcode has been randomly selected from the electoral roll database and says your 'win' is part of a programme to award money from previously unclaimed prizes. The letter asks you to call a number to claim your prize. At this point the criminal will ask you to provide personal information, which will likely include your bank account details. The advice is to always contact the People’s Postcode Lottery directly via a verified phone number (08081 098765), e-mail address or postal address if you genuinely believe that you may have won a prize.

Fake emails and texts offering discounts on energy bills.

A number of different scams have been circulating, including some that appear to be from the energy regulator Ofgem. The £400 energyy bill announced by the Government will be available to all households and will be automatic. People should not give away personal details in order to apply. The messages invite people to apply for the £400 "non-repayable discount" and instruct the recipient to follow a link to a fake Ofgem website to then provide personal details. It then encourages people to set up a direct debit to receive the money. All of the reported emails display the email subject header 'Claim your bill rebate now' and the criminals behind the scam are using the Ofgem logo and colours to make the email appear authentic.

Remember that no matter how an offer comes to your attention, there are very few occasions where there is a legitimate need to hand over your bank details.

Reporting scam emails

If you receive a scam email, you should send it to [email protected] and delete it. If you do grant someone access to your device, turn it off immediately and disconnect from your wi-fi. When you switch the device back on, remove any newly downloaded software by searching through your recent downloads.

If you’ve lost any money or if scammers have gained access to your bank details, contact your bank straight away and report the scam to Action Fraud.

New free Covid test scam

This is a version of a previous scam. Individuals are sent text messages claiming they have been 'in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for the Omicron BA-5 variant and that they are 'eligible for a free test'. Do not click the link. People have been duped into giving personal information, with some divulging bank details as they are asked to pay for postage and packaging.

Summer scams

There are always scams to match the times, according to the latest update from the local Safer Neighbourhood team. Watch out for HMRC tax rebate emails for working from home during Covid as well as promises of any type of rebate such as Council Tax and fuel, and parcel delivery emails and texts. Professional scammers now seem to know that we are expecting rebates and parcels making us more susceptible. Always be cautious if in doubt do not click on any link, do your own search and contact the agency or company directly.

Pickpocketing in Barnet High Street

There have been a spate of pickpocketing incidents in Barnet High Street, with older people being targeted, in particular, according to Barnet police. The Safer Neighbourhood Team is doing daily patrols of the high street and are linking with local businesses, and distributing leaflets. Here are a few do and don'ts from the Metropolitan Police

DO

• Do keep purses and bags closed and secure at all times
• Do carry bags in front of you or diagonally across your chest
• Do return cards to your purse or wallet quickly and zip it up or button it
• Do use a purse that’s difficult to open. One that zips or snaps shut is best, and keep it closed
• Do use a money belt if you’re carrying a significant quantity of cash
• Do conceal your wallet in a buttoned or zipped pocket where it doesn’t bulge
• Do keep a list, separate from your wallet and phone, of contact numbers of family in case your phone is stolen
• Do keep a photocopy of your airline tickets, passport, credit cards and any other documents that would be impossible or inconvenient to replace if stolen

DON'T

• Don’t hang stuff on the back of a chair.
• Don’t leave anything on the back of a pushchair.
• Don’t place your belongings out of sight on the floor.

Remember, having a zipped bag doesn’t mean you’re totally safe. Thieves have been known to walk behind victims while slowly unzipping bags. Yes, they can be that bold. So, never underestimate a pickpocket.

Council tax refund scam

There’s a new council tax refund scam doing the rounds relating to the energy rebate of £150, according to a Which? scams update. The Local Government Association has given guidance that people who pay for council by direct debit will receive the government’s energy rebate directly into their bank account. If people pay in other ways (not direct debit) they will be sent a letter with details of how to claim the rebate. They should never respond to a text or email.

Energy scams

These scams focus on the rising costs of energy

Doorstep scam

People on pre payment meters are offered "cut-price energy", according to Action Fraud. People are offered a cut price deal on their doorstep, for example £50 of electricity meter top-up for a cash payment of just £25. But criminals are using cloned keys to top up energy credit illegally and energy companies do not receive payment for energy used, and the customer ends up paying for the energy twice – first to the fraudsters and then to their energy company.

Phone scam

You receive a phone call, and the scammers say they are from a familiar price comparison website that you might have used in the past. You are then offered a special offer, one day only, often only available for a limited number of customers so you must do it now. They will pressurise you to make a quick decision and won’t give you time to think.

There are a number of signs this is a scam. Firstly, it is unlikely for a price comparison website to call. Secondly, it is unlikely that there will be offers just available for the first few people who sign up - they do offers for everyone and not for the few. Never give any of your details over the phone to the caller.

Fake Ukraine fundraisers