Internet and email scams

Here are some known scams being aimed at people in Brigg. If you come across a new one, could you warn other Brigg folks by sending an email?

1. Credit card purchase by email

You will receive an email (usually from abroad and often with bad English) which claims to want to place a large order with your company - which they would like to pay for by credit card. Don't send any goods as the credit card is most likely invalid, stolen etc.
Advice: delete the email and do not reply.

2. 'Your bank transaction has been processed'

An email claiming to be confirming a bank transfer from your account to another company's account. This is designed to cause panic so that you contact them - and in the process they wheedle out your bank account details.
Advice: ignore and delete.

3. PayPal payments

An email claiming to be from PayPal stating that someone has sent money to you. The email opens up showing genuine PayPal logos, but if you decide to login from this email you are redirected to a foreign website. This is most likely to be sent to users of eBay.
Advice: ignore and delete.

4. 'Distressed millionaire'

These are usually lengthy emails claiming to be from someone in a developing country. That person claims to have many millions of dollars which they need to transfer out of their country. They offer you a 10-15% share of these millions in return for your banking details.
Advice: ignore and delete.

5. Job Offer

A 'foreign company' claims to be asking you to become an agent who accepts transfers of money (sometimes called 'escrow') to the UK in return for a fee. This is not a genuine job offer - surprise, surprise - and is an attempt to get your bank details.
Advice: ignore and delete.

6. Terminal sickness / religious

Just when you thought that you had seen the lowest that scammers can go to get your money, along comes someone worse. These emails claim to be from someone with a terminal illness who is usually a priest of some sort. They are targeted at charitable / religious people and try to get them to send money for treatment.
Advice: delete.

7. Online bank account

An email claiming to be from your bank which states that in the interests of 'routine maintenance' or that 'there has been a problem with your account' that you should login to your account from a link in the email. The purpose is to get your account username and password.
Advice: DO NOT login to you account! Save the email and contact your bank so that they can trace the culprits.

8. Lottery winnings

An email claims that your email address has been entered in a lottery in which you have won fabulous amounts of cash. These emails usually originate from the Netherlands and are an attempt to get your bank details.
Advice: ignore - Remember: 'It could be you' (who's ripped off)

9. 'Your account has been locked'

An email with 'Your account has been locked' (or similar) as the subject. The email claims that a credit card transaction has been made and declined on your account. A 'receipt' is displayed with a billing address, date etc. and a link to what purports to be a secure site
Advice: this email is attempting to panic you into giving your credit card details. Ignore and delete.

Important: the examples and advice given above are to give general guidance only - you should always seek professional advice if in any doubt about an email. NEVER, click on a link in an email. When logging into your online banking system or eBay etc, always type the website address into your browser. Useful general advice is:- 'If in doubt: do nowt'