Bromley Trading Standards is again reminding readers of a scam where criminals send emails pretending to be a family member or friend and asking for help to purchase gift cards.
Our Trading Standards team are aware that, within the last few days, a number of residents have been targeted by these scam emails. We have previously highlighted similar scams where WhatsApp is used.
Criminals will typically ask you to purchase a gift card on their behalf whilst pretending to be someone known to you. They may give different excuses such as they are either away, too busy, or having a problem with their debit card; or they might say that it's for their relative who is ill. The criminal will then ask for the serial numbers on the card or for you to send a digital gift card - sometimes to a different email address - and they will always claim that they will pay you back but they never do.
Once you provide the details requested, the scammer will have access to the funds on the gift card; they are difficult to trace and can be used to launder money. These scenarios vary but are persuasive in their approach, and the advice is to protect yourself.
Protect yourself - always:
- Stop! Before responding to a message like this - Take Five.
- Call to speak to your family or friend to check it was really them.
- Tell your friend or family member that their email account may have been hacked so they can change their password immediately to secure their account. The National Cyber Security Centre website offers cyber security advice.
Report and assistance
Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.
Contact your bank if you have given your financial details - Call 159.
Contact Citizens Advice for help and advice on 0808 223 1133 or on the Citizens Advice website.
If you have given your details or lost money, report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or on the Action Fraud website.
You can also visit the scams page on the council website for more information.
Bromley Trading Standards
To keep up with the latest scam alerts and warnings from Bromley Trading Standards sign up on www.bromley.gov.uk/TradingStandardsAlertSignUpForm.
Bromley Trading Standards also runs a fair-trader directory to help you find a safe, reliable trader that you can trust, visit www.bromley.gov.uk/tradingstandardschecked to learn more.