Welcome to our advice page for young people. This page provides a resource for you to find out more information about fraud and scams.
Get the right help if you are a victim or if you feel you have become involved in fraud.
How can I protect myself from fraud?
Firstly - what is fraud? Fraud is wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.
For example - applying for a mobile phone contract and lying about yourself on the application i.e. how much you earn or your address history would be considered fraudulent conduct.
Another example might be if somebody used your identity and other personal information to take out a loan or account in your name.
It can also involve things like letting somebody use your bank account to move money about in return for a fee or other benefit.
So how can you protect yourself?
- Do not allow your bank account to be shared, even in return for payment, including old accounts that you no longer use.
- Don’t share PIN numbers and passwords.
- Don’t open bank accounts for other people to use, regardless of whether you know the person asking.
- If something sounds too good to be true, take time to think about it and ask a trusted adult for their advice.
- Take a step back and think before buying items online and consider using trusted forms of payment.
- Don’t give out your personal information even to people you know if there is a not a valid reason for them to have it.
- Take time to consider whether a link or an attachment could be suspicious before opening.
- Ensure that passwords are strong and don’t share your passwords with others.
- Think about what you are sharing online particularly on social media and open profiles.
How would I be approached to commit fraud?
Criminals often approach young people via social media and offer them money and gifts in exchange for carrying out fraudulent activity. They may not ask you to undertake fraudulent activity straight away though, they may work to gain your trust before asking you to allow your bank account to be used by them or opening a financial product or service to be used by somebody else. It can be tempting to get involved when money and gifts are being offered however you shouldn’t as fraud is an illegal activity.
However, lots of young adults are not aware of this problem and so are likely to be too trusting and naïve if they are targeted by fraudsters.
- Fraudsters often target vulnerable groups of people who are likely to be in need of money, including migrant workers, university students or the unemployed.
- People may think it is an easy and quick way to make money and even if they know it is wrong, they don’t care about the consequences or believe they won’t get caught.
- Fraudsters use specific pressure techniques to make the ‘offer’ hard to resist, this usually includes offering (large) sums of money for a small amount of ‘work’ and putting a time pressure on the person to agree.
- Fraudsters typically try to befriend their target (often on social media) after finding out information about them from their own profile, making it seem as if they have lots in common, e.g. same music taste, support the same sports team etc. This makes people more likely to be trusting and willing to agree to help out.
These techniques can progress to blackmail and threatening or intimidating behaviour if the person tries to refuse or back out of the agreement.
What happens if I commit fraud?
First of all, don't panic! While there are serious consquences to commiting fraud it is important to know that there is support available.
Being involved in fraudulent activity is illegal and carries consequences including being filed to the Cifas National Fraud Database for up to 6 years and depending on the severity of the fraud the potential to be reported to the Police. If you are filed to the Cifas National Fraud Database then you may have difficulty opening bank accounts and other financial services such as credit cards, loans, mortgages and finance as well as insurance policies. It can also affect your employment opportunities.
- There may be a police investigation and you may get a criminal record and be sent to prison for up to 10 years.
- You will have to pay back the money that was gained through fraudulent conduct.
- You will not be able to take out a mobile phone contract, loan or credit card from a bank and may struggle to get a mortgage for a house.
- Banks, the police and anti-fraud agencies may keep your details.
- You may find it difficult to get a job.
How do I start a conversation with a trusted adult?
If you have been approached to be involved in fraudulent activity or have been a victim of fraud, you may want to speak to a trusted adult to seek their advice or support. Sometimes it can be hard to know how to reach out for help or how to start that conversation. Childline have set out some information and advice on how to ask an adult for help. Click here to read their advice.
What support is there if I am victim of fraud?
There are lots of places you can go to for support. we have outlined some of them below.
- If you have been the victim of fraud and a trusted adult wishes to report it, then they can do so via Action Fraud.
If you have been the victim of fraud and want to talk to somebody about how you are feeling then you can contact:
- Childline offer a free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything. Visit their website.
- The Mix who are the UK’s leading support service to young people and are there to support you with any challenges you are facing The Mix - Essential support for under 25s. Visit their website.
- Stem4 is a charity that promotes positive mental health in teenagers and those who support them stem4 - supporting teenage mental health. Visit their website.
- Shout 85258 provide text message support for people. Visit their website.
For parents there are support services available such as:
Helpful resources and support
It may feel tempting to commit fraud or other financial crime when money is tight. Fraud is illegal and can carry heavy consequences so instead, look into the resources below for support and guidance.
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