Scam texts and emails
6th of December, 2024
Scam parcel / delivery texts
Always be on the alert for scam texts or emails claiming to be from a delivery company to reschedule or pay additional delivery fees, or false tracking information being given for parcels that never arrive.
Scam texts can be reported, for free, to the National Cyber Security Centre by forwarding it to 7726. See the attached Trading Standards Bulletin for more information
Scam phishing emails
Trading Standards have alerted the Parish Council to an email hacking scam affecting Lancashire residents - including Members of this Council!
The Scam involves receiving an email from a close friend or acquaintance that asks for help with a shopping 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 also be reported via report@phishing.gov.uk.