There has been recent reports of vulnerable people (in particular elderly people) in the North Wales area being scammed by cold callers who claim to be from a bank or service provider. Wrexham residents are advised to be alert to this.
North Wales Police say that fraudsters from as far as Africa have been calling the vulnerable people by phone to get personal information from them. This information allows the fraudster to gain access to the person’s bank details, or take control of the person’s computer and scam them.
This is a long running type of fraud, which is often known as the ‘Nigerian 419’ scam due to its origin. The 419 part comes from the section of Nigeria’s Criminal Code that outlaws this practice. Scams of this type now take place from all over the world.
Trading Standards advise that if anyone cold calls you requesting personal information, DON’T engage in conversation with them and report any suspicious calls to Citizens Advice Consumer Services on 03454 040506 or North Wales Police on 101.
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Some steps you can take to prevent getting scammed are…
• NEVER share personal details with cold callers
• Seek independent advice from someone you know and trust if you’re in doubt
• If someone claims to be from a particular organisation, verify their identity by calling the relevant organisation directly
It’s not just by phone that these scams take place either…if you’re approached by letter, email, text message, or even social media, always follow the right steps to keep yourself safe.
Remember, if you want to report something you think is suspicious, please contact either Citizens Advice Consumer Services on 03454 040506 or North Wales Police on 101.
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