Are you being played by fraudsters? Find out what types of fraud you could be susceptible too by taking part in the Crimestopper's Game of Fraud quiz: http://goo.gl/uXLRPQ Get familiar with the types of fraud and learn how to protect yourself against criminals.

1. GET FAMILIAR WITH THE TYPES OF FRAUD AND
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST CRIMINALS
ARE YOU BEING PLAYED
BY FRAUDSTERS?
Know the moves,
gain the upperhand
TM
TM
SOCIALENGINEERINGFRAUD Gaining access to technology
and accounts
ONLINE SHOPPING FRAUD OVERPAYMENT CHEQUES
LOTTERY FRAUD ROGUE TRADERS FRA
9
SOCIAL MEDIA FRAUD
TOTAL FRAUD LOSS £40m pa
AVERAGE AGE OF VICTIM All ages
UK RESIDENTS AFFECTED UNKNOWN
personal IMPACT FINANCIAL/EMOTIONAL
Social engineering is the deception of a person, via phone/online with the intent of acquiring enough information to allow
them access to their bank account. The fraudster may also obtain information from social media sites to give their victims
assurance before persuading them to divulge further information. They may also hack the email accounts of friends.
Social engineering fraud targets both
men and women of all ages and income
streams who utilise technology to
manage online banking on a regular
basis. It doesn’t stop at targeting people
online – fraudsters may also contact
victims on the phone encouraging them
to release personal information.
Where fraud takes place
PhonePostDoorstepOnline
£££
££
£
INCOME
18–25
26–35 56+
36–45 46–55
MEN
BUSINESSES
WOMEN
WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE?
ADVICE
• Report the fraud to Action Fraud.
• If you suspect someone is guilty of
committing this crime and want to
remain anonymous, please contact
Crimestoppers.
ROMANCEFRAUD Dating sites and
social media
ADVANCE FEE FRAUD
ROMANCE FRAUD
£
EMPLOYMENT FRAUD
TOTAL FRAUD LOSS £24.5m pa
AVERAGE AGE OF VICTIM 50
UK RESIDENTS AFFECTED 2,856 pa (est)
personal IMPACT FINANCIAL/EMOTIONAL
Romance fraud occurs when you think you’ve met your perfect partner online, but they aren’t who they say they are. Once
they’ve gained your trust, they ask for money for a variety of emotive reasons in the hope that you will offer them financial
support. They may ask for an intimate photograph of you which may be used to extort funds at a later date.
Romance fraud typically targets
women and sometimes men who may
be actively seeking to build romantic
relationships via matchmaking
websites. They may be vulnerable and
easily exploited.
Where fraud takes place
PhonePostDoorstepOnline
£££
££
£
INCOME
18–25
26–35 56+
36–45 46–55
MEN
BUSINESSES
WOMEN
WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE?
ADVICE
• Report the fraud to Action Fraud.
• If you suspect someone is guilty of
committing this crime and want to
remain anonymous, please contact
Crimestoppers.
OVERPAYMENTFRAUD Fraudulent
chequesINVESTMENT FRAUD
OPPORTUNITY
ADVANCE FEE FRAUD
OVERPAYMENT CHEQUES FRAUD ROMANCE FRAUD
£
ROGUE TRADERS FRAUD EMPLOYMENT FRAUD
TOTAL FRAUD LOSS £35m pa
AVERAGE AGE OF VICTIM ALL AGES
UK RESIDENTS AFFECTED UNKNOWN
personal IMPACT FINANCIAL/REPUTATIONAL
Cheque overpayment fraud is when a fraudster pays a business for goods or services by a fraudulent cheque. The cheque amount is
made for a higher amount than the actual value. The business reimburses the fraudster with the excess amount of money that was
apparently paid to it, before it discovers that the cheque was not genuine. Overpayment fraud is seen quite often around the sales of cars.
The primary targets for this fraud type
are businesses. Individuals can also be
targeted where they are selling high
value items.
Where fraud takes place
PhonePostDoorstepOnline
£££
££
£
INCOME
18–25
26–35 56+
36–45 46–55
MEN
BUSINESSES
WOMEN
WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE?
ADVICE
• Report the fraud to Action Fraud.
• If you suspect someone is guilty of
committing this crime and want to
remain anonymous, please contact
Crimestoppers.
ONLINESHOPPINGFRAUD Auctions and
ticketingCOURIER FRAUD INVESTMENT FRAUD
OPPORTUNITY
ONLINE SHOPPING FRAUD OVERPAYMENT CHEQUES FRAUD
LOTTERY FRAUD ROGUE TRADERS FRAUD
9
SOCIAL MEDIA FRAUD
TOTAL FRAUD LOSS £63m pa
AVERAGE AGE OF VICTIM ALL AGES
UK RESIDENTS AFFECTED 40,000
personal IMPACT FINANCIAL/EMOTIONAL
Shopping and auction fraud involves fraudulent shopping scams that rely on the anonymity of the internet.
Scammers use a range of tricks including bogus websites and spoof payment services. Fraudsters may target
victims to make advance payments for goods or services that do not materialise.
Online shopping fraud targets men
and women of all ages and income
streams who shop for products
and services online, in particular
purchasing tickets or goods through
auctioning sites. They may be prone
to phishing emails that look like they
came from the payment site they
registered with, asking to update their
account.
Where fraud takes place
PhonePostDoorstepOnline
£££
££
£
INCOME
18–25
26–35 56+
36–45 46–55
MEN
BUSINESSES
WOMEN
WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE?
ADVICE
• Report the fraud to Action Fraud.
• If you suspect someone is guilty of
committing this crime and want to
remain anonymous, please contact
Crimestoppers.
LOTTERYFRAUD Fake winnings,
fake websites
COURIER FRAUD INVESTMENT FRAUD
OPPORTUNITY
ONLINE SHOPPING FRAUD OVERPAYMENT CHEQUES FRAUD
LOTTERY FRAUD ROGUE TRADERS FRAUD
9
SOCIAL MEDIA FRAUD
TOTAL FRAUD LOSS £5.6m pa
AVERAGE AGE OF VICTIM UNKNOWN
UK RESIDENTS AFFECTED 3,523 pa (est)
personal IMPACT FINANCIAL/EMOTIONAL
Lottery fraud is where fraudsters tell you you’ve won a large sum of money in a lottery, sweepstake or prize draw but in order to claim
your prize you need to supply personal information/copies of official documents. The fraudsters then use this information to steal your
identity. They will also ask you to pay various banking/legal fees so that they can ‘release’ your non-existent winnings.
Lottery fraud targets moderate to
average income men and women aged
40 and above who may be financially
vulnerable. These people may not
be digitally savvy so may fall into this
crime type via fraudulent emails.
Where fraud takes place
PhonePostDoorstepOnline
£££
££
£
INCOME
18–25
26–35 56+
36–45 46–55
MEN
BUSINESSES
WOMEN
WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE?
ADVICE
• Report the fraud to Action Fraud.
• If you suspect someone is guilty
of committing this crime, contact
Crimestoppers anonymously.
• If you haven’t bought a ticket, you can’t
have won the lottery.
INVESTMENTFRAUD Parting with
savings
INVESTMENT FRAUD
OPPORTUNITY
ADVANCE FEE FRAUD
OVERPAYMENT CHEQUES FRAUD ROMANCE FRAUD
£
ROGUE TRADERS FRAUD EMPLOYMENT FRAUD
TOTAL FRAUD LOSS £30m pa
AVERAGE AGE OF VICTIM 66
UK RESIDENTS AFFECTED 6,000
personal IMPACT FINANCIAL/EMOTIONAL
This fraud type involves bogus brokers, usually based overseas, cold calling people to pressure them
into buying shares that promise high returns. In reality, the shares are either worthless or non-existent.
Investment fraud can also involve sales of carbon credits, land banking, wine, diamonds and other assets.
Investment fraud targets moderate to
wealthy men and women averaging
at an age of 66 who may be interested
in capitalising existing savings into
new investments. Retired savers are
particularly at risk.
Where fraud takes place
PhonePostDoorstepOnline
£££
££
£
INCOME
18–25
26–35 56+
36–45 46–55
MEN
BUSINESSES
WOMEN
WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE?
ADVICE
• Report the fraud to Action Fraud.
• If you suspect someone is guilty of
committing this crime and want to
remain anonymous, please contact
Crimestoppers.
ADVANCEFEEFRAUD Up-front fees for
non-existent services
ADVANCE FEE FRAUD
ROMANCE FRAUD
£
EMPLOYMENT FRAUD
TOTAL FRAUD LOSS £49.1m pa
AVERAGE AGE OF VICTIM 55
UK RESIDENTS AFFECTED 32,400 pa (est)
personal IMPACT FINANCIAL/EMOTIONAL
Advance fee fraud is where you may be asked to transfer up-front fees for the
release of funds e.g. 419 scams (where you are asked to help transfer money out
of another country) or fake loans.
Men and women averaging at an age of
55 who may be vulnerable and/or living
alone. This fraud can also target smaller
businesses.
Where fraud takes place
PhonePostDoorstepOnline
£££
££
£
INCOME
18–25
26–35 56+
36–45 46–55
MEN
BUSINESSES
WOMEN
WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE?
ADVICE
• Report the fraud to Action Fraud.
• If you suspect someone is guilty of
committing this crime and want to
remain anonymous, please contact
Crimestoppers.
BOGUSTRADERFRAUD Unscrupulous trades
people
INVESTMENT FRAUD
OPPORTUNITY
ADVANCE FEE FRAUD
OVERPAYMENT CHEQUES FRAUD ROMANCE FRAUD
£
ROGUE TRADERS FRAUD EMPLOYMENT FRAUD
TOTAL FRAUD LOSS £20m pa
AVERAGE AGE OF VICTIM 70
UK RESIDENTS AFFECTED 5,270 pa (est)
personal IMPACT FINANCIAL/EMOTIONAL/PROPERTY DAMAGE
Bogus traders often work door to door or use flyers to approach householders. They generally offer maintenance work
such as gardening, driveway repair and roofing and quote low prices which are later inflated. Work carried out is of a poor
standard, overpriced and they often use intimidation to ‘encourage’ home owners to accept offers of more work.
Bogus traders tend to target older
more vulnerable men and women
who may be easily led into believing
they need some ‘urgent’ maintenance
on their property. These individuals
may live alone and rarely receive
visitors.
Where fraud takes place
PhonePostDoorstepOnline
£££
££
£
INCOME
18–25
26–35 56+
36–45 46–55
MEN
BUSINESSES
WOMEN
WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE?
ADVICE
• Report the fraud to Action Fraud.
• If you suspect someone is guilty of
committing this crime and want to
remain anonymous, please contact
Crimestoppers.
EMPLOYMENTFRAUD Money
muling
ADVANCE FEE FRAUD
ROMANCE FRAUD
£
EMPLOYMENT FRAUD
TOTAL FRAUD LOSS UNKNOWN
AVERAGE AGE OF VICTIM 26
UK RESIDENTS AFFECTED 1,560 pa (est)
personal IMPACT FINANCIAL/EMOTIONAL
Employment fraud is when a fraudster claims to be a recruitment agent hiring you for a job – sometimes overseas – which doesn’t exist. The ‘job’ may be to act as
a payment forwarding agent. You’ll be referred to an agency to help with your travel/accommodation/visa in return for various fees. However the ‘agency’ does not
exist. The fraudsters may also ask for bank account details to set up salary payments which they will then use to steal/launder money from your account.
Employment fraud scams target
younger men and women who may be
students and/or job-seekers looking for
work via online channels.
Where fraud takes place
PhonePostDoorstepOnline
£££
££
£
INCOME
18–25
26–35 56+
36–45 46–55
MEN
BUSINESSES
WOMEN
WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE?
ADVICE
• Report the fraud to Action Fraud.
• If you suspect someone is guilty of
committing this crime and want to
remain anonymous, please contact
Crimestoppers.
COURIERFRAUD Doorstep fraud -
stealing PIN/ID
COURIER FRAUD INVESTMENT FRAUD
OPPORTUNITY
TOTAL FRAUD LOSS £1.2m pa
AVERAGE AGE OF VICTIM 70
UK RESIDENTS AFFECTED 1,800 pa (est)
personal IMPACT FINANCIAL/EMOTIONAL
Courier fraud is when fraudsters trick you into handing your cards and PIN to a courier on your doorstep. They will call you on a landline, claiming to
be from your bank/police alerting you to fraudulent activity. In order to assure you they are genuine, they suggest you hang up and ring them back.
However, they don’t disconnect the call so when you call back, you are still speaking to them. Finally they send a courier to you to collect your bank card.
This fraud targets both men and women
of all income bands who may be
concerned about preventing fraud but
lack knowledge in how to identify scams.
They may also unknowingly put their
trust in the fraudsters.
Where fraud takes place
PhonePostDoorstepOnline
£££
££
£
INCOME
18–25
26–35 56+
36–45 46–55
MEN
BUSINESSES
WOMEN
WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE?
ADVICE
• Report the fraud to Action Fraud.
• If you suspect someone is guilty
of committing this crime, contact
Crimestoppers anonymously.
• Never give your PIN to anyone - even
someone from your bank.
Sources for the information provided can be found on our website
www.crimestoppers–uk.org/gameoffraud/_sources