Six scams to be aware of including the new version of “Hi Mum” message

Britons are being warned of the frightening money scams currently circulating across the country, resulting in many losing thousands out of their back pocket.

Consumer experts at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have revealed the red flags of six money-making scams to prevent households from losing their hard-earned cash to criminals.

Over 40 million Brits were targeted by scammers in the first half of 2022, with this number expected to have risen further as the cost of living crisis deepens.

This is because scammers have discovered new ways to target people who are struggling more than ever amid rising living costs.

The popular “Hi Mum” scam now takes on a new informal style of messaging is making it more difficult than ever for any Brit to spot the difference between what’s real and fake.

There are several scams to be aware of such as purchasing fake concert tickets and looking out for fake energy bill rebates.

John Stirzaker from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “It’s shocking how many Brits have been approached by scammers in the last year and it’s likely this will rise even more in the next year.

“We’ve all heard the heartbreaking stories of people losing thousands of pounds to scammers, which is why we want to spread awareness of the ways they’re currently targeting Brits.

“There are six types of scams that we’ve found to be spreading across the country currently, including the well-known “Hi Mum” text which has crippled many parent’s bank accounts.

“But now this text isn’t just a straight-forward ‘hand me the money my phone is broken’, it’s now developed where they’ll message for days, putting kisses in messages and using social media to use personal information in conversations.

“We urge everyone who has been approached by a scammer to report the incident to Action Fraud and to ring up the bank straight away if any financial transactions were involved, so they’re aware of the situation.”

Here are six potential scams to be aware of, found by NetVoucherCodes.co.uk:

The “Hi Mum”
If you’ve received a text saying “Hi Mum, my phone is broken, I need to buy a new one” there’s a high chance it’s a scammer attempting to con you out of money. They’ll try using your social media to try and find out personal information about you as well as putting kisses on the end of texts to make it seem genuine. If you are worried that it is actually your child messaging you try getting in contact with them or someone they may be with first.

Fake concert tickets
With stars such as Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Madonna recently announcing their tour dates, many ‘sellers’ on social media have been taking advantage of the in-demand shows by selling fake tickets with a hefty price tag. If their social media page has few images, or if they’re trying to make you send money to a bank account with a different name, there’s a high chance it’s a scammer.

Giveaway scams
People who have entered social media giveaways have experienced fake profile pages attempting to contact them to collect their prize as a way to get entrants to reveal personal information. Only accept messages and prizes from the original account where you entered the giveaway.

Premium phone call charges
If you’re searching online for tech support or customer service numbers, make sure to double-check if they’re legitimate by visiting the website of the company you’re trying to reach, otherwise, it can result in a costly phone bill. Premium charges over £600 can be added to your account for spending less than a minute on the phone, even if the person at the other end seems authentic.

Free items from promoters
While many official brands often hand out giveaways on social media, there’s a rising amount of fake promoters who message to say they’re offering free clothes or items so they can get details of your address. This information is used along with your social media information to clone bank accounts or fake passports.

Fake energy bills rebate
Scammers have been taking advantage of rising energy bills by offering fake rebates to vulnerable households. If an email comes through about receiving the discount or rebate, don’t click on any link. Only look directly on the Government website to see if you’re eligible or ring up your energy supplier.

https://www.netvouchercodes.co.uk/