Scam tricks, explained
Scammers reuse the same handful of scripts on everyone. Read them here first, and the real thing loses its power — each one takes under a minute.
The fake bank call
Someone rings sounding calm and official: “This is your bank’s fraud team. Your account is under attack — we need to move your money to a safe account.” They may know your name, and there’s always urgency.
The tell: No real bank ever asks you to move money to a “safe account”, ever. That request IS the scam.
What to do: Hang up. Wait a few minutes or use another phone, then ring the number on the back of your card.
The parcel text
A text says a delivery “couldn’t be made” and asks a small fee — £1.99 or £2.99 — with a link to pay. The tiny amount is deliberate: it feels too small to be a con.
The tell: Real delivery firms don’t chase small fees by text. The link harvests your card details — the fee was never the point.
What to do: Don’t tap. If you’re expecting a parcel, check on the shop’s own website or the official app.
The pension or investment offer
A call or letter offers a “free pension review”, early access to your pension, or an investment with returns that sound wonderful and safe at the same time.
The tell: Wonderful and safe don’t go together — and since 2019 cold-calling about pensions is illegal in the UK, so the call itself is the giveaway.
What to do: Put the phone down. Anything pension-shaped deserves a chat with MoneyHelper or your own provider first.
The romance scam
Someone warm and attentive appears online — often widowed, often working abroad. Weeks of lovely messages. Then a crisis: a hospital bill, a stranded flight, a customs fee. Could you help, just this once?
The tell: They can never video call, never meet, and the requests for money grow. Real affection never needs a bank transfer.
What to do: Talk to someone you trust before sending anything — saying it out loud breaks the spell. It’s the cruellest scam there is, and it works on kind, intelligent people.
The “Hi Mum” WhatsApp message
“Hi Mum, I’ve broken my phone — this is my new number. Can you help me pay an urgent bill? I can’t do my banking from this phone.” It plays on pure parental instinct.
The tell: A child who really lost their phone can still speak. The scammer can’t — because their voice would give them away.
What to do: Ring your child’s usual number, or ask a question only they’d know. Genuine children don’t mind being checked.
The QR code trick
A QR code — that black-and-white square you scan with the camera — arrives in an email, or is stuck over a genuine one on a parking meter or menu, leading to a fake payment page.
The tell: A QR code is just a link wearing a disguise. Everything you know about suspicious links applies to squares too.
What to do: Only scan codes in trusted places, and glance at the web address that appears before going further. A sticker on top of another sticker is a warning sign.
Please don’t feel embarrassed if any of these have caught you — scams can happen to clever, careful people, and the people who fall for them are simply the people who were targeted.
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