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From online phishing attempts to scammers operating from the door step, there are a whole host of tactics which fraudsters, sadly, use. Now, call blocker makers CPR are urging members of the
public to be on alert, as it suggests a US phone scam could be set to hit the UK.
The company says it could see scammers pretending to be a relative in distress or someone of authority - such as a lawyer or a police officer.
The scam, which has been conning grandparents across the US, sees the “relative” of the grandparent explain that they’re in trouble.
The caller claims they need their “grandparent” to send them funds, insisting they need to be used for a fictitious expense that they need to pay urgently.
Unfortunately, the scammer urges the victim not to tell anyone, even the parent of the “grandchild” - claiming it’s because they don’t want them to find out about the trouble that they’re
in.
READ MORE: Man looking for love reveals he lost £5,000 in heartbreaking scam
According to CPR Call Blocker, victims have been tricked out of hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
Chelsea Davies, CPR Call Blocker Business Development Manager, said: “In our experience of working across the US and UK, scams spread quickly across the pond so it is sensible for
grandparents to be on their guard as we have no doubt that fraudsters operating in the UK will soon start using these tactics.
“In the meantime, if you suspect you may have compromised your account, contact your bank or card provider as soon as possible.
“It’s also advisable to check your bank and card statements regularly for unauthorised charged as a matter of course.”
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To detect and avoid the so-called “Grandparent Scam”, CPR Call Blocker recommends the following tips:
To reduce the risk of receiving scam and nuisance calls, CPR Call Blocker has provided a quick three-step guide to stopping unwanted calls:
Recently, Action Fraud has warned about an Amazon Prime scam, which has cost victims more than £1million.
It has seen victims receiving an automated phone call, which then informs them that they have been charged for an Amazon Prime subscription.
They are then told to “press one” in order to cancel the transaction - but this actually directs them to a fraudster who is purporting to be an Amazon customer service representative.
Worryingly, the scammer then tells then that remote access to their device is necessary - which then allows the scammer to monitor the machine and potentially even access online banking
details.
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