Don't lose your cash to fraud

Don't lose your cash to fraud

Money is low and so are we. The last thing anyone in the UK needs right now is to be a target of fraud. However, HM Revenue & Customs have announced that in the run up to the Self Assessment tax deadline on 31st January, taxpayers are at higher risk of being targeted by fraudsters.

It has been reported that in order to steal money, scammers are telling innocent recipients that they are due a tax refund. In light of this, they are asking for the bank or credit card details of their victim in order to illegally withdraw cash.

Neil Munroe, the External Affairds Director of Equifax explains: “It’s very rare that any organization would ask its customers to confirm personal details such as bank and credit card details via email or telephone. Fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated in how they operate and consumers need to be aware of these types of phishing scams and the risk to their identity. Make sure you know who you are speaking to and if in doubt, check. As the HMRC advices, they only ever contact customers who are due a refund in writing by post.”

As an expert on the topic, Munroe has provided Female First with Equifax’s top tips to protect against ID fraud.

1.Be wary when asked to give out your personal details online, if you doubt the request is genuine, contact the company directly

2.Make sure you have the latest virus protection that ideally updates hourly and you have a Firewall

3.Keep your PIN secure and do not use the same PIN for all of your cards and accounts and never write down your PIN

4.Don’t include common verification such as your date of birth or your mother’s maiden name

5.When using online banking, ensure people can’t view your details and log out of the site, rather than just closing the window

6.If you are disposing of an old computer, make sure you destroy information on the hard drive

7.Always check bank statements and credit card statements carefully against receipts

8. Apply for a copy of your credit file to look out for any unauthorized activity

By Karen Asbury