Isle of Wight Trading Standards have some more scams to warn you about this week.
We have had reports from residents about the following but there will be others.
- Phone calls from Open Reach to say they are in your area and there is a problem with your line and asking you to log into your laptop/PC and download an app – DON’T This is a scam.
- Scam Texts and Calls purporting to be HMRC. Sometimes they will indicate that you are entitled to a refund, other times they can be particularly intimidating accusing you of owing money and threatening arrest if you don’t do what they say. Both are SCAMS – the HMRC will never contact you in this way.
- Phone call saying that your National Insurance number has been compromised and asking you to press 1 – DON’T this is a scam, they will try to gain your personal and or banking information – Hang up.
- Whatsapp message advising you that there is a scam going around called Martinelli and telling you to share this with your contacts so that nobody falls victim to it – the actual Whatsapp message is the scam and is designed to mine as much contact information as it can for future scams – DON’T share it – Delete it.
Scam texts can be forwarded to 7726 and scam emails sent on to [email protected] where the information will be gathered and used for intelligence.
Report scams online: Action Fraud or on the phone: 0300 123 2040.
A short video aimed at raising awareness around scams and doorstep crime is available at www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
Image: Kev Costello under CC BY 2.0
