Frauds

POLICE in the Scottish Borders are warning the public of the dangers of romance fraud which occurs when you think you’ve met the perfect partner online, but they are using a fake profile to form a relationship with you.

https://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/23245988.beware-romance-fraud-warn-police-spot-signs/?ref=twtrec

Global retail fraud is estimated to be $32 billion annually. This means that it's costing retailers an average of 3% of their sales, or $93 billion each year.

https://retailtechinnovationhub.com/home/2023/1/11/why-fraudsters-love-the-post-pandemic-retail-reality-and-id-verification-is-coming-to-grocery-retail

A quarter of fraud victims could miss out on refunds which they "simply can't afford" amid the cost-of-living crisis if the regulator's plan for a £100 threshold and £35 claim excess gets the go ahead.

https://www.yourmoney.com/news/scam-victims-may-be-denied-refunds-if-100-loss-threshold-set/

Men are around twice as likely as women to have had their identity stolen, a survey suggests.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/men-more-likely-had-identity-000100861.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr

West Mercia Police have seen a recent increase in reports of fraudsters operating in Shropshire, claiming to be from various police services around the country.

https://www.shropshirelive.com/news/2023/01/03/police-issue-courier-fraud-alert/

A rogue housebuilder, who previously worked as an estate agent in Cheshire, has been successfully prosecuted for fraud offences, after he left a string of unfinished extensions and shoddy home improvement projects across Southwark, and beyond.

https://propertyindustryeye.com/ex-estate-agent-sentenced-to-three-years-in-prison-for-fraud/

Police have issued a warning following a rise in rental fraud in north Wales – particularly in the Wrexham area.

https://www.wrexham.com/news/warning-issued-over-rise-in-rental-fraud-in-wrexham-228826.html

Warnings have been issued after a rise in reports of fraudsters claiming to be from the police and asking residents to withdraw money.

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/crime/2022/12/30/vulnerable-and-elderly-targeted-in-elaborate-telephone-courier-fraud-scam/

A number of people across the Channel Islands have been affected after their NatWest bank cards have been illegally accessed.

https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2022-12-29/natwest-customers-in-the-channel-islands-affected-by-card-fraud

A fraudster from Blackburn has been jailed after helping to steal the entire life savings of an 84-year-old woman.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/blackburn-fraudster-helped-dupe-elderly-lady-out-of-her-entire-life-savings/ar-AA15C0a9