Fraud Focus – Fake Currys phishing emails, fraudsters targeting students, scam Instagram emails and job offer scams

Cifas, the UK’s leading fraud prevention service, is highlighting the latest fraud threats, and warning the public to stay vigilant of the ever-changing tactics that scammers are using to extract money and information.

Fake Currys phishing emails

Cifas has been made aware of a new phishing email impersonating electrical retailer Currys. The email offers you the chance to win a free electric Smeg kettle by clicking on a malicious link. Trading Standards has released a warning describing this as a common tactic to tempt people into giving away their personal and financial details.

Cifas is urging people to stop and think carefully before parting with their personal or financial information, and always check the validity of the sender. If you believe you’ve received a phishing email, please do not click on any links and report it to report@phishing.gov.uk.

Students targeted by fraudsters

NatWest’s annual Student Living Index has warned of scams targeting students. These include criminals posing as bank staff, fake tax rebates, delivery service scams and investment scams. According to the Index, students in Edinburgh, Cambridge, and Coventry are most likely to be targeted as the cost-of-living crisis continues.

Students are advised to be wary of these scams which could result in the theft of personal and financial information. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and only fraudsters will try to rush or panic you. If you believe you’ve fallen victim to a scam, report it to your bank and Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

Scam emails posing as Instagram

Cifas has been made aware of an email phishing scam targeting Instagram users. Action Fraud has received more than 270 reports of the scam email which states that someone is trying to “recover your password from Russia.”

The email then provides a link which redirect the user to malicious websites designed to steal Instagram login details. Instagram users are advised to check whether an email is genuine by going to the app’s Security settings and checking the ‘Emails from Instagram’ option. Suspicious emails can be reported to report@phishing.gov.uk.

Sophisticated job offer scam—linked credit cards

A job offer scam has been spotted on LinkedIn. Job applicants are interviewed for a position at an organisation, speak to a person posing as a recruiter and eventually convinced to hand over financial information in order to receive company funds. After sharing the financial information, it is used to purchase products and equipment.

It is recommended that job seekers research a potential employer in the first instance, and contact the hiring organisation separately to ask about the role. Jobsaware has useful advice on what a potential employer will ask you for as part of the recruitment process. If you believe you’ve fallen victim to a scam, report it to your bank and Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

Amber Burridge, Head of Fraud Intelligence at Cifas, said: ‘As the cost-of-living crisis continues, criminals are continuing to use various tactics to target unsuspecting victims.

‘Trusted retailers and social media apps are being impersonated and/or targeted by fraudsters in order to carry out phishing attacks or recruitment scams. Students who may be feeling the pinch are also being targeted by criminals eager to trick them into sharing sensitive information.

‘If you are ever asked to provide personal or financial information, take a moment and think carefully about the consequences of parting with your details. Remember that only criminals will try to rush or panic you into making a quick decision.’

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Ione Gyamfi, Press & PR Manager
ione.gyamfi@cifas.org.uk
+44 (0)20 4551 7956

Contact us at press@cifas.org.uk