20 May 2022, 11:47
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LBC
The head of the UK’s specialist police unit for fraud put out a warning last week that the cost of living could be the next frontline for scammers, with criminals using the crisis as a way to lure potential victims.
But as many listeners of the LBC Consumer Hour have been telling me, it’s not a case of ‘could be’, fraudsters already are taking advantage of the cost of living crisis with a range of scams aimed at those who are struggling to make ends meet.
Here are the most common scams you need to look out for:
Energy swaps The cost of energy has gone through the roof and many people are reporting that their monthly direct debits have doubled. It is therefore going to be enticing if you are told that you can reduce your costs as Lisa from St Helens discovered. She received an email purportedly from an energy comparison site. The email stated that the site had an exclusive deal with two suppliers that could offer tariffs cheaper than the current price cap. Lisa jumped at the chance and clicked the link in the email that tool to her to an online form to complete. It was a fraud as she discovered when she asked me about it.
Council tax rebate Government announced a council tax rebate for all properties in bands A-D earlier in the year. Fraudsters have latched…
