Welcome to April's Newsletter

It is a very usettling time for all with the energy and fuel prices rising and the War in Ukraine.  This month we are covering scams relating to both of these issues.

Scam in Focus - Ukrainian War scams

There is always someone out to exploit a situation and the Ukrainian War is no exception.  There are currently 3 specific scams doing the rounds with the fraudsters hoping to exploit people’s generosity and desire to help. 

Most of the scams are the same in principle and it is just the cause that changes, and this is no exception.  So the general types of scams are:-

1. Businessman trying to get cash out of the county
2. Donations to charity
3. Give me money directly as I am poor

Now let’s go into them in more detail.

The first one is the Businessman trying to get his money out of the country.  This works by you thinking you are helping someone stuck in the Ukraine who has built their business up from scratch and now, due to this war, which they can do nothing about, they are going to lose everything.  Is it tugging at your heart strings yet?  It is mine, and it is meant to, as we all want to help, and it is difficult not to get sucked in. How does this scam work then?  While you think you are helping them get their money out of the Ukraine into a bank account in a different country, the scammers are, in fact, working to get as much information about you and your bank account as possible so they can drain your account. How can you spot this? This will usually be via email, and it will be a Phishing email, sent out to thousands of people to see who responds.  A question for you to think about: How would a Ukrainian Businessman have my email address?

We all donate to charities, and we generally donate to charities we know such as Age UK, Cancer Research UK or Air Ambulance, and we all know these are legitimate or know how to check they are.  But, due to the unexpected crisis in the Ukraine, charities are popping up all over the place and we want to get involved and help and are keen to donate items or money to help the Ukraine in any way we can. However, some of these charities are not charities and the money is going into the scammer's pocket.  How can we protect ourselves?  There are great charities out there doing great work and of course we want to support them, but we can do this best by making sure our money is going to where it is needed. Ask what you can do to help at your local library or food bank as they will know who is collecting what and what is needed.  There is no point in having a stockpile of perishables if the next shipment isn’t for a week.  Ask what is needed and donate that.  Items that are donated that the charity can’t use must be disposed of as waste, and that is at the charity’s cost.

And the last one, is “I am in the Ukraine, I can’t feed my family, will you help?” You want to, but, unfortunately, they are still in the Ukraine, so you must send them money directly.  You don’t know who you are sending the money to.  Donate to a charity like, The British Red Cross, UNICEF or Christian Aid, who are likely to be on the ground in the country helping those who need it.  Donate to a charity which is known to you or you can check their legitimacy by Searching the Charity Commission register .

As with the Businessman scam, contact will usually be via email and it will be a Phishing email, sent out to thousands of people to see who responds.  And you also need to think about the same question: How would a person in Ukraine have my email address?

We all want to help, but please be safe doing so.  You can always check the Action Fraud website for advice, but in the meantime, here are a few of their tips.

• Never click on the links or attachments in suspicious emails or respond to unsolicited messages asking for personal or financial details - even if they are in the name of a charity. 
• To donate online, type in the address of the charity website rather than clicking on a link. 
• Be cautious when donating to an online fundraising page - fake ones are often badly written or contain spelling mistakes. 
• A representative said: "The links in the emails lead to malicious websites that are designed to steal your money and personal information.". 
• When donating, check the charity's name and registration number on the Charity Commission website. 
• Most charities with an annual income of £5,000 or more must be registered.
• According to the Charity Commission, the most efficient and helpful way to support those in need is to give money to established, registered charities with experience delivering humanitarian aid.

For mail scams please contact Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 or on their website Contact the consumer helpline - Citizens Advice  .

If you, or any of your friends, has been a victim of a phone or online scam, please report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or Contact Action Fraud .

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Jeremy Sallis - Update from the Show on Tuesday

Topic - Ukrainian War Scams

Jeremy Sallis - 12/04/2022 - BBC Sounds 2:32:00

Natasha Fountain covers the types of scams and how the scammers are exploiting the situation in Ukraine.

Scams to be aware of in April - Fake bill settlement letters from energy companies

With energy companies going out of business it is reasonable that they or their receivers will be trying to collect any money outstanding to try and clear up the company debt.  But scammers have cottoned onto this and are sending out letters asking for balances to be settled.  A lot of people do not know who their energy provider is and If they receive one of these letters they will just assume it is correct.   

If you pay by direct debit, you can check which energy provider you have by checking your bank statement.

If you are still unsure and receive one of these letters please do not call any of the numbers in the letter.  Do some research on the internet and find a number for the company whose name is on your letter and ring them from the number you find on the internet.

What the Community Protection Team has been up to

With restrictions regarding meeting together now being lifted, the Community Protection Team has been able to get out and about more and do some face-to-face talks.  This has been a welcome change and the team is enjoying meeting people again.

Sarah Freeman attended the first Golden Age Fair in two years at the start of the month at Gorefield Community Hall and was very busy, talking to people and providing information, while Karen Reid went along to talk to the Comberton Friendship Club about how its members can keep safe from phone scams and rogue traders.

CAPASP board members are looking forward to their first face-to-face meeting in two years. Work is in progress to find a venue, and a meeting will be arranged at the earliest opportunity. It's also hoped to be able to welcome at least one new member to the CAPASP board.