WEEKLY FRAUD UPDATE FROM WEST MERCIA POLICE - ECONOMIC CRIME UNIT - 12/08/2025"

WEEKLY FRAUD UPDATE FROM WEST MERCIA POLICE - ECONOMIC CRIME UNIT - 12/08/2025"

BEWARE OF ONLINE JOB SCAMS

It will all sound so simple, almost to good to be true? You get a text, email or even a phone call offering amazing daily rates of pay. Some may want you to simply review products, or like or share videos or posts. All in your own time and working from home.

They will very soon move you onto sites such as WhatsApp or Telegram, and you may meet other so-called members of a group online with convincing stories of the how they are making money.

The scam then builds up slowly, you may be asked to download an App to your phone which may access sensitive data on your phone.

Sometimes they may make a small payment to convince you that the job is genuine, but sooner or later they will start asking for payments for extra training or equipment. They may even make you buy worthless products, or make you sign up others to the scheme before you are paid.

Protect yourself:

Any advert that tells you that you can sit back and let a business run itself is a good sign that fraudsters are at work.

Be wary of paying money in advance. Most legitimate employers would not require you to pay anything to start working for them.

If you’ve got involved with a scheme you suspect is fraudulent, keep any relevant letters, emails or documents as evidence. Don’t get other people involved.

The main thing the criminals are trying to do is t get hold of your personal details so beware of giving out personal details such as date of birth, bank details or copies of ID documents such as Driving Licences which they can use to gain loans, new credit cards and more – all in your name

Do your research and never be pressurised into make snap decisions

Spot the signs:

You’ve seen an advert online or via social media that says you can earn a specific or minimum amount of money by running your own business.

You’re told to call a mobile number (beginning with 07) or respond to a web-based email such as @yahoo or @gmail. Genuine businesses would usually advertise a landline number and/or their own email domain.

You’re given a reason to pay up front, such as to register, buy customer leads, set up a website, buy products to sell, or get an instruction manual.

Fraudsters may eventually sell your details on to others, so be alert to offers from elsewhere.

Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives, or neighbours.

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If you’ve fallen for fraud

Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk

Scam Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take prompt action and block numbers that generate spam on their networks.

You can also report fraudulent mobile calls by texting 7726 with the word “Call” followed by the fraudster’s phone number.

Forward Fake Emails received to report@phishing.gov.uk

If you think your bank account or personal banking details have been used fraudulently, then use the short phone number - 159 - to contact the Fraud Prevention Department of most major UK banks.

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Message Sent By
Michael Barbour
(Police, PSV, Economic Crime Unit – Fraud Protect’)