Helping you protect yourselves

 

Drawing on UK law-enforcement, government and fraud-reporting sources, the five fraud types consistently identified as causing the greatest harm to UK citizens are:

1. Investment Fraud

How it works

• Criminals promote fake investments, often via social media, websites, messaging apps or cold calls.
• Victims are promised high returns with low risk.
• Increasingly linked to cryptocurrency, overseas investments and cloned legitimate firms.

Simple prevention measures

✅ Never invest based on an unsolicited call, text or social media message.
✅ Check firms on the FCA Register before sending money.
✅ Be suspicious of “guaranteed” returns.
✅ Take 24 hours to think before transferring funds.

 

2. Romance Fraud

How it works

• Fraudsters build a relationship online through dating websites or social media.
• After gaining trust, they invent emergencies or investment opportunities and ask for money.
• This remains one of the most harmful fraud types in the UK.

Simple prevention measures

✅ Never send money to someone you have only met online.
✅ Be wary if they avoid video calls or meeting in person.
✅ Discuss the relationship with friends or family.
✅ Reverse-image search profile pictures if suspicious.

 

 

3. Courier Fraud

How it works

• Criminals pretend to be police officers or bank staff.
• They convince victims their account is compromised and arrange for cash, cards, jewellery or gold to be collected by a “courier.”
• Older people are particularly targeted.

Simple prevention measures

✅ Hang up and call your bank using the number on your card.
✅ Remember that police and banks never ask for PINs, cash or cards.
✅ Never hand valuables to a courier sent by a caller.
✅ Verify any request independently.

 

4. Payment Diversion Fraud (Invoice Scam)

How it works

• Criminals intercept or imitate genuine emails.
• They persuade individuals or businesses to send money to a different bank account.
• Often occurs during house purchases, construction projects or supplier payments.

Simple prevention measures

✅ Always verify changes to bank details by telephone.
✅ Use a trusted number, not one contained in the email.
✅ Double-check payee details before sending money.
✅ Be suspicious of urgent requests to change payment instructions.

 

5. Phishing and Impersonation Scams

How it works

• Criminals send fake emails, texts or make phone calls pretending to be banks, delivery companies, HMRC or government departments.
• The aim is to steal passwords, bank details or one-time passcodes.

Simple prevention measures

✅ Never click links in unexpected messages.
✅ Access accounts through official apps or websites.
✅ Enable two-factor authentication.
✅ Never share passwords, PINs or one-time security codes.
✅ Forward suspicious texts to 7726 and phishing emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.

 

The Five Golden Rules to Avoid Most Scams

According to guidance from UK government and cyber-security agencies, these five habits will prevent the vast majority of fraud attempts:

1. Stop and think before acting.
2. Never trust unsolicited contact.
3. Verify independently using official contact details.
4. Never share passwords, PINs or security codes.
5. Seek a second opinion before sending money.

Key Message for our Staff, Clients and Family Members is this:

If someone contacts you unexpectedly and wants money, bank details, passwords, security codes, or asks you to act urgently, assume it is a scam until you have independently verified it.

We hope you have found this useful. If you would like us to provide information or guidance on any aspect of financial planning and money well-being, please call us on

01733 314553 and ask for Miles and we will see what we can do.