Following recent reported incidents of Scams relative to HM Customs and Excise, personal pensions, financial investments, DVLA, TV Licencing etc. NWS have issued the following general advice:

Do not give any personal information (name, address, bank details, email or phone number) to organisations or people before verifying their credentials.

• Always question unsolicited calls, texts or emails requesting your personal or financial information (name, address, bank details, email or phone number). Instead, contact the company directly using a known email or phone number.

Many frauds start with a phishing email. Remember that banks and financial institutions will not send you an email asking you to click on a link and confirm your bank details. Do not trust such emails, even if they look genuine. You can always call your bank using the phone number on a genuine piece of correspondence, website (typed directly into the address bar) or the phone book to check if you’re not sure.

• Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected email or text.
• Remember, email addresses and phone numbers can be spoofed, so don't use those as a means to verify that a message or call is authentic.
• The best way to get in touch with a company is to use a known email or phone number, such as the one on the back of your bank card, bank statement, official website or telephone directory

Be extremely wary of post, phone calls or emails offering business or financial deals out of the blue. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always question it.

• Listen to your instincts and be wary of unsolicited calls, emails or online ads offering deals that sound too good to be true.
• Genuine banks, or other trusted organisations, won't pressure you into making a financial transaction, if something feels wrong then it's usually right to question.
• Get further advice

Further detailed advice is available on the following Action Fraud link:
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

If you are the victim of any type of Scam please contact Police Scotland on 101 or follow the advice on the Action Fraud link as above.

Please forward this information on to family, friends, neighbours and colleagues.

Original Message Sent By
Willie Clark (NHWN, Community Engagement Officer, NW Scotland))