A Future at Home - Scam Info Update

Wed 24 Sep, 09:38

The number of scams - phone, mail, front door, etc, are on the rise and getting more sophisticated. 

Older people are often targeted, but everyone is at risk

I thought it might be good for all of us to be reminded of the latest updates...

Have you been told you can earn easy cash by moving funds through your bank account, or been asked to apply for bank cards in your name? Learn more about what a money mule is and how to avoid this type of scam.

What is a money mule?

Criminals will advertise what looks like a genuine job on websites and social media. It will offer the chance to earn easy money. They’ll ask to move money through your bank account - allowing you to keep some as payment. Or they may pay you to apply for bank cards in your name, which they can then use. If you do this, it’s money laundering. And you’ve become a money mule.

Money laundering is used to hide money earned through criminal activity. And it funds serious crimes such as terrorism, drug trafficking and people smuggling. Getting involved with these people could put you and your family at risk of intimidation and violence if you try to stop working with them.

As always, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Things to remember

· Always be suspicious of the promise of money in exchange for moving funds through your bank account. Trustworthy companies will never ask you to do this. And never respond to any job adverts that promise high financial reward for minimal effort – it’s likely to be a scam.

· Never open a bank account in your name for anyone else. The same goes for letting someone use your bank account to send and receive funds. You should also never disclose your passwords, PINS and passcodes with anyone.

· Do your research on any advertised jobs. Check to see if their contact details are genuine. Do they have a website? Are they listed at Companies House? Do they have online reviews for their products or services? By doing your own research, you’ll get a good idea about whether the opportunity is real or not.

· Be careful of adverts from overseas as it can be hard to check if they're legitimate. It’s easier to create a company and make it look like the real thing in certain countries. And as they don’t have the same safeguards that we have in the UK, it can be impossible to check up on their validity.