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Each month we'll highlight some current scams to look-out for:
1. DVLA Payment Unsuccessful (March 2025)
- There is an email doing the rounds which states 'your latest vehicle tax payment to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) was unsuccessful'
- There is a threat of a £1000 Fine which encourages recipients to respond to what is a convincing phishing attempt to collect your personal details
- If you're interested in seeing how convincing this is, the link in the email is:
2. WhatsApp Scams (March 2025)
- The average individual loss of being scammed on WhatsApp is £2437* compared to £478 on Facebook (*Revolut Survey 2025)
- Most of these scams involve you being added to a random WhatsApp 'group'; and then messaged about fake job offers (51% of Cases) or investment opportunities (38%)
- The fact that WhatsApp messaging is encrypted 'end-to-end' means the scammers are very hard to identify and track-down
- It's worth changing your WhatsApp Privacy Setting for Groups from to 'Everyone' to 'My Contacts'
3. Winter Fuel Payment (March 2025)
- The Subsidy Payment Centre (whoever they are!) are sending Text Messages, often to a Group of unconnected people, stating that you haven't applied for your £300 subsidy
- The Link in the message begins with grco.de - the suffix .de is German which should be a giveaway that there's something amiss
- Be Aware...this is a classic example of Phishing for personal information by clicking on a Link in a Text or Email
4. GMail Users Targeted (March 2025)
- This involves using AI to conduct a co-ordinated approach to GMail Users via Phone and Email
- The attack starts with a phone call - claiming to be from Google - informing you that your Google Account has been hacked. At the same time, an Email arrives to confirm your Account has been compromised
- The hackers then ask for your Google Account Recovery Code; this is the Code sent to your Mobile or Recovery Email Address to enable Account access. Some people receive a further recorded message urging people to share the Code with Google Support
- With this Code, ALL your Google Account information e.g. personal & payment details (except Card CVV) can be stolen
- To stay safe, NEVER share this Recovery Code with anyone...simples !
5. Fake QR Codes in eMails & Car Parks (Feb. 2025)
- Scammers are increasingly using fake QR codes to trick you.
- This kind of scam asks you to scan a QR Code - usually with your mobile phone camera - to perform urgent tasks, such as confirming a payment or verifying your account details.
- Doing so takes you to a fake website where the scammers will ask for your Personal Details.
- This form of scamming is also used at Car Parks; where scammers place their fake QR Codes over the legitimate ones already on the Payment Machines.
- The basic rule for avoiding fake QR codes is always the same as for any scam: be extremely suspicious about any unexpected email(s) that ask you to urgently perform an action.
- After scanning a QR Code, check the URL (web site address) that appears on your screen looks genuine. The web site address scanners built into Android and iOS mobile phones do a fair job at blocking suspicious Codes.
6. Register To Vote Emails (Jan. 2025)
- In late January, scam emails supposedly from the Electoral Registration Officer claimed that you needed to prove your identity to remain eligible to Vote.
- It asked for documents such as your Passport; and came from the email address: electoral@register-to-vote.electoral.agency
- Remember our anti-scam mantra....it's ok to just:
'Delete First; Ask Questions Later'
7. 'Upgrade Your Landline' BT Scammers (Jan. 2025)
- Scammers posing as BT staff are phoning customers to ask them to confirm their Personal and Payment information; so they can upgrade their Landline to digital.
- To persuade you they're genuine, they'll know your name and address. If you refuse, they'll threaten to disconnect your Landline, which they claim will also cut your internet connection.
- According to Which?, the fraudsters add a sense of urgency by claiming the deadline is fast approaching. In May last year, BT pushed this back to the end of January 2027.
- Scammers will probably try repeating this scam throughout this year, changing the deadlines to keep adding urgency.
8. £3 Great Western Railway ' UK Annual Pass' (Feb. 2025)
- If you travel on GWR trains be aware of a Facebook advertisement promising a 'UK Annual Pass' that would give me unlimited travel for just £3.
- Clicking the link takes you to a fake but similar to the Official GWR web page that asks for your Personal Details.
- GWR have confirmed it's a well-known scam that's been around for about a year.
Remember: 'If it seems too good to be true, it usually is !'
See our more detailed article on 'Avoid Being Scammed'
HTS are happy to answer any Questions or to help you.
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