In March there were 132 reports made to Action fraud by residents of Camden borough.

The losses described over these 132 reports total £1,001,299

Meaning an average loss of £7,586 per report.

The top 3 by volume (number of reports) type of fraud is as follows;

False representation                             39 reports           £157,640          lost

Online Shopping & Auctions                17 reports           £12,863            lost

Banking Fraud                                        12 reports           £7,981               lost

The top 3 by amount reported lost:

Pyramid / Ponzi scheme                       £500,000 lost      1 report

False Representation                            £157,640 lost      39 reports

Shares Fraud                                          £136,536 lost       5 reports

Once again, there were large losses to fraudulent shares, investments and pyramid/Ponzi type frauds. 

The report for the Ponzi scheme details a loan company where the CEO appears to have embezzled the victims funds.

Always seek impartial advice if you are considering an investment and research the company.

Contact the Financial Conduct Authority for more information. – 0800 111 6768, www.fca.org.uk

They have lists of known scams and fraudulent brokers.

And remember a legitimate investment/shares company will not cold call you. (They don’t need to.) 

A company may have a flashy website and an office address in a lucrative part of London (e.g. canary wharf) but these can be easily forged. 

Online Shopping

Victims are convinced in to paying money for items that don’t exist or are counterfeit when shopping online. E.g. fake adverts on eBay.

Never pay via direct bank transfers, always use the websites recommended payment method.

Online Shopping continues to be the most “popular” fraud, please see our video on the following link;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-_wPFXK2m4

£90,000 was lost to “Courier Fraud and “Push Payment Fraud”

Victims are called by fraudsters pretending to be police, Tax office or from the victim’s bank and convince them to give their card details over the phone. Or in some cases, transfer money to a “safe account,” buy gift vouchers or to go and withdraw money as part of an “investigation.” 

The fraudsters arrange for a courier to pick up the victims card or cash to take it away for “evidence”.

Your bank, the police, or tax office will never ask you to attend your bank, withdraw, transfer or pay money over the phone or send couriers to collect your card or cash. Nor would they ask you to buy goods or vouchers. This is a scam. 

1.     Hang up           (Never give details or money following a cold call)

2.     Take 5              (Seek a second opinion, tell someone what has happened)

3.     Verify               (if concerned, contact the company via a pre-confirmed method)

Please help us share this information, tell your family, friends and neighbours as people are still falling victim to these types of fraud. 

All of our videos and electronic leaflets can be found on the following link; www.met.police.uk/littlemedia