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Ask your fraud and scam questions to Take Five to Stop Fraud representative and Senior Fraud Prevention Officer Tony Blake - chance to win £150 voucher! NOW CLOSED

(156 Posts)

GNHQ have commented on this thread. Read here.

EllieGransnet (GNHQ) Tue 16-Jan-18 17:17:31

Finding out you have been a victim of fraud and/or a scam is never a pleasant experience and often figuring out whether a call/text/email is a scam and/or fraudulent can be quite difficult. Therefore Tony Blake, a Take Five representative and Senior Fraud Prevention Officer would love to answer your questions and queries on fraud and scams.

Here is what Take Five have to say: “Fraudsters are now very sophisticated so it is more important than ever that people are aware of the advice on how to protect themselves from becoming a victim of fraud. Always question any calls, texts or emails asking for your details out of the blue. Stop and think before you give away any information, no matter how legitimate the person sounds – remember – it’s My Money? My Info? I don’t think so. If you’re unsure, hang up and don’t reply and contact the organisation directly on a number you trust.”

Do you want to know the difference between a fraud and a scam? Perhaps you’re not sure what to look out for when it comes to knowing whether something is a scam or not? Or Maybe you have been a victim of a scam before and want to know how to protect yourself in the future?

Here is some more information on fraud expert, Tony Blake:
Tony Blake is a former police officer who currently works for the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU) and Financial Fraud Action UK (FFA UK). Through a range of programs, Tony helps to proactively raise awareness and prevent Fraud.

Please post your questions on the thread below and we’ll choose 15 for Tony Blake to answer and then post a link to the responses as soon as possible. Everyone who posts a question will be entered into a prize draw where one GNer will win a £150 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
GNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Direne3 Fri 26-Jan-18 15:26:06

I am aware that one can report them but is there any way at all to safely unsubscribe from spam email senders?

Moocow Fri 26-Jan-18 12:23:58

What great questions for Tony Blake to answer!
Gransnet, would it be possible for Tony to be given the time and scope to run through everyone's questions, rather than just a select few? If not here, perhaps in another slot, as I feel that many many of us are interested in best knowling how to help ourselves.

^ ^ ^ reading all of these questions I keep feeling the need to repeat/highlight what candelle has said GNHQ.

So many questions that are just highlighted in the media but never really answered or advised on how everyone should be living alongside modern technology day in day out.

MummyBtothree Fri 26-Jan-18 11:31:32

Just how safe are our details when paying bills or making purchases online?

Annie29 Fri 26-Jan-18 10:49:54

How do you tell if an email is from a company when the logo etc look like the real thing?

Vhall254 Fri 26-Jan-18 10:15:03

If I think an email is dodgy just by looking at the title in the inbox, should I open to check or just delete straight away? I'm always worried it will be important and I've deleted it.

buchanl Fri 26-Jan-18 00:32:58

If my debit bank account was compromised by scammers would my bank offer the same help/advise/protection that I would get if it happened to my credit card.

grannyactivist Thu 25-Jan-18 19:32:25

I forward all emails that I suspect of being scams on to the email address below, is this the best course of action?

[email protected]

helsrodders Thu 25-Jan-18 19:24:52

How can I identify fraud devices on/by ATM machines?

lemonbuns Thu 25-Jan-18 13:05:32

What is the best way I can protect myself against identity theft?

maryhill80 Wed 24-Jan-18 15:20:01

What's the best security to protect yourself online from identity fraud? I've heard of the green lock etc in sites is there more can do as most if my bills are online now. Thanks

abigailflo Tue 23-Jan-18 21:45:56

How safe are mobile banking apps

angiehoggett Tue 23-Jan-18 13:48:15

Apart from the obvious is there any blatant telltale signs that an email is a fake?

NanaMacGeek Mon 22-Jan-18 23:49:03

Apple and Google have introduced two step authentication and Microsoft have produced an authenticator app. Apple also generate app specific passwords which are only available when two factor verification is switched on. Do you think these products are useful tools in the fight against online fraud or are they just too complicated for most users?

What measures would you like to see introduced to protect us online?

rachelmi Mon 22-Jan-18 22:03:58

How can I best protect myself when using my credit card over the telephone or online?

memyselfandi Mon 22-Jan-18 21:27:17

My email addresses never begin with my name. Sometimes I get emails who appear to be from family members but I know immediately they are not as they say something like 'Hello simba' (email address [email protected]) example only - not real. How do people manage to hack someone's email address in this way? My family confirm they have not sent the email and it is not in their sent box?

chrismse1 Mon 22-Jan-18 20:52:05

I like entering competitions but should i stop as they usually ask for details like dob, address etc.

ha2el Mon 22-Jan-18 18:51:57

Do you think that it is ethical that the banking industry provides a service which allows for fraudulent activity on customer's accounts?

Moocow Mon 22-Jan-18 18:47:36

If I use my tablet in a hotel but don't use any of my log on details for example when using Gransnet, can a scammer still access these details?

Candelle Mon 22-Jan-18 17:46:48

What great questions for Tony Blake to answer!

Gransnet, would it be possible for Tony to be given the time and scope to run through everyone's questions, rather than just a select few? If not here, perhaps in another slot, as I feel that many many of us are interested in best knowling how to help ourselves.

I have apparently 'bought' very expensive goods in the Bahamas, the Gambia and the States whilst being happily ensconced in my own home: thankfully our bank has been on the ball and rang to check if these were my purchases, so they didn't go through but even banks make mistakes...

Today I received notice from Equifax to advise that my details had been compromised last year.

Is there any end to all this fraud?

Marmight Mon 22-Jan-18 05:26:10

Like many others, my life exists
on line; bank, insurances, investments, utilities, purchases - you name it..... I tend to be a bit gung ho and blase about the whole thing but recently, especially while trying to organise my life via a mobile phone while abroad for a few months have suffered an intense attack of the jitters. I just want to return to the days when everything was simple, involving paper, pen, envelope and stamp or purely talking to someone behind a desk who smiled and was delighted to help you! Perhaps in the not too distant future, when the balloon finally goes up, we may return to this way of life ? grin

sparkle58 Sun 21-Jan-18 23:12:15

Do we really need to buy those special wallets to keep our contactless cards in ?

oliveoyl72 Sun 21-Jan-18 23:11:22

Any tips for creating memorable, different for each website, secure passwords for all the online accounts we need these days? I constantly forget them unless I write them down (not really the idea!).

comperbee Sun 21-Jan-18 22:49:27

I use my PC a lot to browse the internet..my new favourite hobby. I'm aware that there are people out there trying to scam or Phish however one thing that worries me is anyone able to remote access my computer whilst I'm using my pc (we use wifi) I recall at work that if we had a problem with a computer and we contact head office & you could see the cursor moving around 'on its own' and I wondered how that was possible.

wildswan16 Sun 21-Jan-18 18:08:32

If we mistakenly click on an email which we then believe to be fraudulent - what do we immediately need to do in order to protect our information.

emmmaaa26 Sun 21-Jan-18 17:49:38

Can you get your money back if someone scams you?