Scams Q&A - how to avoid being caught out

grandma1949

There seem to be an ever-increasing number of scams that involve making a call to a number, which in turn then causes the caller to be charged an astronomical fee eg £150 per minute.

Why can't the telephone companies put a stop to these? I have heard it reported that the 'phone companies say they can't do anything!

If you are asked to dial a number beginning with 09 be wary, as numbers starting this way are premium rate. Ofcom has just introduced some new regulations on the way that calls to numbers starting 084, 087, 118, and 09 are charged.

Now when you dial a number beginning with 084, 087, 09 or 118, the cost will be split into two parts: an access charge, set by your provider, and a service charge, set by the company you're calling. Each provider has their own access charge and this can depend on whether you are dialing from a home phone or a mobile. They could be up to 44p a minute and then the service charge is on top of that amount.

Organisations are supposed to make their service charge clear to you. The charges are capped by Ofcom. Calls to numbers beginning with 09, for example, are capped at £6 a call or £3.60 per minute. There's no cap on 118 numbers so these could be even higher.

If an organisation is charging more than the capped rate per minute for their number, it could mean that they are acting illegally, or possibly that you have been asked to call a number overseas. If in doubt, do an internet search on the number to see where it is located or to check the area code.

You can also report suspect calls to phonepayplus which regulates premium rate numbers and has the power to stop fraud and fine offenders. They also have a 'number checker' service which allows you to check any suspicious telephone numbers. It is also worth reporting the company, if UK-based, to Action Fraud or to Ofcom.

phoenix

Some people are using Freecycle to scam. They post that they have an item available, usually a laptop or a large screen television. The give the reason for giving away a laptop is that they have just got a new job, and have a company laptop with it. For the television it's usually something about splitting up with partner and moving back in with parents/granny etc.

If you show an interest you will find that they have just moved out of the area, but you can still have the item if you are prepared to pay courier costs!

Scammers are always finding new opportunities to relieve us of our money, so thanks for posting about this scam. Be wary of anything where the transaction agreement or terms change! Freecycle is an online platform to gift unwanted items to residents in your local area in order to reduce the amount of goods that go to landfill; this person is not keeping within the spirit of Freecycle.

It's relevant here to talk about online shopping and internet auctions in general, which have grown in popularity over the last few years. They've opened up the opportunities for scammers and the subsequent complaints. Action Fraud has some useful tips on staying safe while shopping online and using online auction sites: www.actionfraud.police.uk/fraud_protection/online_shopping

Granny23

Co-incidentally, I have, today, received an e.mail. allegedly from HMRC asking me to complete a form to reclaim an overpayment of Tax of nearly £500. Double deleted straight away. How did I know it was a scam? Easy my total tax paid last year was under £100

Hi Granny23, please see answer above re. email scams.

Pittcity

We have a sign by our front door that is very effective and a call blocker on our landline.
Why has this scamming and cold calling got worse in recent years, when we are being told that the law has been tightening up?

Changes in technology have made it easier and cheaper for people to make huge amounts of calls.

In April this year, the law changed to tackle cold calling. It makes it easier for the Information Commissioner's Office - the independent body that upholds our rights around personal information - to fine companies in breach of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Act. Companies are still allowed to make marketing calls without prior permission, but they must check the Telephone Preference Service which people can sign up to for free to opt out of these calls.

Despite this, cold calling continues. People who don't want to receive these calls should register with the Telephone Preference Service, call 0845 070 0707 or visit www.tpsonline.org.uk

And it is important to remember that cold calling is done by legitimate businesses and illegal scammers. The change in the law will not impact scammers who have no interest in obeying the law. But it should, over time, reduce cold calling from legitimate businesses. For more detail see the Nuisance Calls Task Force report and this useful article.

General tips from Age UK

Here's our scams checklist:

If an exciting offer seems too good to be true, think about the following warning signs and ask yourself if it's a scam.

• Was the offer unsolicited? Companies shouldn't need to cold call you for trade. Most property repair businesses are kept busy by repeat customers or recommendations.
• Do you have to respond quickly? What's the rush?
• Do you have to pay for a prize or 'free' gift?
• Are you being asked to pay an advance fee so that money can be transferred to you?
• Do you have to ring a premium rate number (one starting with '09')?
• Are you being asked for your bank or credit card details?
• Is the business reluctant to give you its address or contact details?
• Are you being asked to keep the offer confidential? Be wary. Take advice before making a decision to buy or invest. Ask your family and friends what they think or, if you're thinking of investing, contact your bank.
• If you're getting to know someone online, are they asking for personal information while revealing very little about themselves?

There's nothing wrong with being sceptical, especially before signing anything or handing over money or personal details. A legitimate company won't mind you checking their credentials before you deal with them.

Visit our scams hub for more information about all types of scam and to download our free guide 'Avoiding Scams' www.ageuk.org.uk/scams. You can also order the guide by calling Age UK Advice on 0800 169 65 65.

Report fraud to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud

Why not subscribe to Action Fraud's Neighbourhood Alerts to find out about scams operating in your area and nationwide? www.actionfraud.police.uk/support-and-prevention/sign-up-to-action-fraud-alert

To reduce unwanted contacts you can:

• Register their number with the Telephone Preference Service www.tpsonline.org.uk, 0845 070 0707.
• Report unsolicited marketing calls to the Information Commissioner's Office ico.org.uk/concerns/marketing, 0303 123 1113.
• Use a product to block telephone calls. TrueCall www.truecall.co.uk
CallBlocker www.cprcallblocker.co.uk
• The Mailing Preference Service (MPS) is free and may help reduce unsolicited mail. www.mpsonline.org.uk, phone: 0845 703 4599.
• People who want to report a potential postal scam can write to Royal Mail at Freepost Scam Mail, phone: 03456 113 413, or email [email protected].
• No Cold Calling - door stickers. Some trading standard services or community police teams provide these.