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To Contact Hampshire Cyber Watch click the button above
View the latest Scam Warning
Click here to view the latest Scam Warning
Bank Fraud
Affected by fraud involving credit or debit cards, online banking or cheques? Immediately notify your bank, they will contact the police if necessary.
Mis-sold goods?
Seek advice or report the salesperson to the Citizens Advice on 03454 04 05 06.
Courier Fraud
Offenders will ring claiming to be a Police Officer saying there has been some kind of fraud on your bank account and ask you to withdraw a large sum of money from the bank (sometimes they ask for your PIN number and bank card). You will then be told a courier will come to your house to collect the cash or bank card. The offenders will offer you the opportunity to call your bank to check but will keep the line open so when the call is made, it is still the fraudsters on the line. A courier will later arrive to to collect the cash or bank card.
Police Advice
- Police officers and banks will never call asking for money to be withdrawn or for your PIN number or bank card
- If someone calls claiming to be a police officer, ask for their ID number and police force. Hang up before calling 101 using a different phone. If you can’t use a different phone, wait at least five minutes before calling back. A genuine police officer will not mind waiting while you check
- Never hand over money to someone at the door to be sent off elsewhere
- Call the police on 101 to tell them about the call or if its an emergency, call 999
Mail, Phone and Email Scams
Here blanket emails, calls or post are sent out initially asking for money in return for a larger sum of money or something else valuable e.g. investments. Once you engage with the scammer, more requests for larger amounts of money are made promising something in return that never comes. Once you reply to one scam, your details may be put on a ‘scammers’ or ’suckers’ list. More and more scammers will then make contact with you.
Police Advice
- Do not reply to any scam mail, emails or phone calls – if it sounds too good to be true, it more than likely is
- If you find a lot of mail coming to your house, contact Royal Mail and either ask for redirection or their assistance
- Tell a relative or friend that you’re receiving this contact, they may have a similar thing happening to them but might not know what you now know
- Consider blocking withheld numbers from calling you
- If you are receiving emails, consider blocking the sender or creating a new email account
- If you receive an email asking you to click a link and log in, do not use this. Use the main website of the company
- If you have handed over any bank details, tell your bank immediately so they can stop any fraudulent activity
- If you have given your details or any money over, please contact the police on 101 so they can investigate
Further general advice from Get Safe Online is available here.
Suspicious email or worried about a possible scam?
If you need help with regard to a suspicious email, text or phone call, or you think you might have been scammed or lost personal information and not sure what to do – you can always contact a NW Cyber Champion at the Hampshire Cyber Watch website for advice and help. The service is free.
