Phishing Emails

18th of July, 2024

Trading Standards have alerted the Parish Council to an email hacking scam currently affecting Lancashire residents - including Members of this Council!

The Scam involves receiving an email from a close friend or acquaintance that initially states "Can you help me with a request". It continues with a paragraph very similar to this

"I'm unable to speak over the phone as I'm in a meeting / have serious throat pain caused by laryngitis / have lost my phone" (or other similar excuses). Let me know if you receive this email."

If a response is obtained the sender requests an e-gift card from Apple, Amazon, Apple Tesco, Sainsbury’s or Morrisons be sent directly by email.

This scam aims to prevent you ringing the person who has been hacked and preys on recipients' kind natures. Unsuspecting recipients lost between £250 and £300.

Be suspicious of unusual, out of character email requests from people you know, double check the email address the email has been sent from.

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

Scam emails can be reported via [email protected].

For information on current scams see www.facebook.com/StanleyDards/. Contact the Trading Standards Service via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.