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Thank you to Operation Falcon team for providing us with an update and summary for 2018.
Greenwich Borough Cyber Crime Annual Summary - 2018
In 2018 there were 269 reports were made to Action Fraud costing a total of £738,992 (an average of £2,747 per report)
The top 3 by volume (number of reports) type of fraud is as follows;
Online Shopping Fraud 55 reports £26,783 lost
None of the Above 42 reports £76,033 lost
Advance Fee 36 Reports £15,081lost
The top 3 by amount reported lost:
Corporate Employee Fraud £408,427 lost1 Report
Share sales Fraud £87,550 lost 3 reports
None of the Above £76,033 lost 42 reports
I covered most of these types of Fraud in my presentation, but to summarise;
Online Shopping
Victims are convinced in to paying money for items that don’t exist or are counterfeit when shopping online. E.g. fake adverts on eBay.
Never pay via direct bank transfers, always use the websites recommended payment method.
Advance Fee
Victims are encouraged to pay an advance fee with promise of a larger amount back in return. E.g. a scam email from the “Tax Office” stating that the victim is owed a refund for overpayment of tax, but requesting an admin fee first.
Never give your bank details or personal information following an unsolicited email. Confirm with the company via a pre-established contact method. (i.e. the phone number on the company’s website)
Investment / Share sales Fraud
Victims are pressured in to making “investments” or buying shares that don’t actual exist or have no chance of the financial return suggested.
Genuine investment/shares companies do NOT cold call people. Contact Financial Conduct Authority for advice.
www.fca.org.uk or 0800 111 676
The top 2 frauds in “None of the above” are “Courier Fraud and “Push Payment Fraud” (these don’t officially have their own classification.
Victims are called by fraudsters pretending to be police, Tax office or from the victim’s bank and convince them to give their card details over the phone. Or in some cases, transfer money to a “safe account,” buy gift vouchers or to go and withdraw money as part of an “investigation.”
The fraudsters arrange for a courier to pick up the victims card or cash to take it away for “evidence”.
Your bank, the police, or tax office will never ask you to attend your bank, withdraw, transfer or pay money over the phone or send couriers to collect your card or cash. Nor would they ask you to buy goods or vouchers. This is a scam.
1. Hang up(Never give details or money following a cold call)2. Take 5(Seek a second opinion, tell someone what has happened)3. Verify(if concerned, contact the company via a pre-confirmed method)
All of our videos and electronic leaflets can be found on the following link; www.met.police.uk/littlemedia
Always report, Scams fraud and cyber crime to Action Fraud,
either online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by telephone on 0300 123 2040.