Counterfeit WhatsApp messages and texts from fake delivery firms are among the scams doing the rounds on the Isle of Wight.
Trading Standards Isle of Wight says it has received a few reports about a scam WhatsApp/Text message where the recipient will receive a message claiming to be their son or daughter saying they'd changed their phone number.
When the recipient replied on the new number they got a text back saying that their child was having trouble accessing their online banking app on their new phone.
They then asked the parent to make the payment for them if given the details.
Trading standards said:
"In the cases we’ve heard about the parent has felt that something wasn’t quite right about the message so contacted their child on their old number and surprise surprise they knew nothing about it!
"Please be very wary if you receive a message like this – scammers are getting incredibly sophisticated and will stop at nothing to get their hands on our money. Never send money following an online request, email, social media, text, WhatsApp – they can all be hacked and cloned. If somebody you know has asked for financial help in some way then please ring them and check if its genuine."
As Christmas approaches, delivery scams are also doing the rounds,
A spokesperson added:
"If you receive a message from a courier asking you to click on a link to make a payment or confirm details – DON’T. Even if they don’t take any money this will be a Phishing exercise which means your information, which is incredibly valuable to criminals, will be harvested and sold on multiple times."
A scam has also been shared that doesn’t appear to have hit the Island yet.
The caller will state they're from the NHS, they will ask questions about COVID vaccinations and then ask if you have Health Insurance. This will probably be another Phishing exercise aimed at gathering your information to sell on.
Any phone call, text, email, social media message out of the blue should be treated with suspicion.
Scam texts can be forwarded to 7726 and emails to [email protected]
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