Your help helps us to inform the story
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the bottom when the story is growing. Whether it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light-weight on the American ladies preventing for reproductive rights, we all know how vital it’s to parse out the information from the messaging.
At such a crucial second in US historical past, we’d like reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to each side of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans throughout the complete political spectrum. And in contrast to many different high quality information shops, we select to not lock Americans out of our reporting and evaluation with paywalls. We imagine high quality journalism must be accessible to everybody, paid for by those that can afford it.
Your help makes all of the distinction.
Loneliness may put individuals at heightened threat of being scammed over Christmas, an anti-fraud initiative is warning.
Research for the Take Five to Stop Fraud marketing campaign indicated that greater than half (58%) of individuals really feel lonely no less than generally.
The marketing campaign is urging communities to look out for weak pals, neighbours or relations who could also be in danger.
People who really feel remoted can turn into targets for fraudsters, who try to befriend and manipulate them into passing on private and monetary data.
Impersonation and romance scams are notably dangerous strategies of defrauding individuals, with UK Finance knowledge displaying that over £65 million was recorded as misplaced to those rip-off varieties within the first half of 2024.
These frauds contain criminals researching their goal and utilizing social engineering techniques to construct belief, usually posing as a romantic curiosity, a involved pal or member of the family or a trusted organisation.
Over half (53%) of individuals surveyed stated they’re no less than considerably trusting of full strangers or individuals they have no idea, a trait that scammers will exploit to achieve entry to non-public and monetary data.
Just underneath 1 / 4 (24%) of individuals surveyed stated they don’t have somebody of their life who they’d discuss to in the event that they thought somebody was making an attempt to rip-off them.
And 23% of individuals stated they’ve clicked a hyperlink, offered private data or made a cost in response to an surprising request from somebody who later turned out to not be who they claimed to be.
The Take Five to Stop Fraud marketing campaign is urging individuals to cease and assume every time they’re requested cash or monetary data.
Giles Mason, spokesperson for the Take Five to Stop Fraud marketing campaign, stated: “Fraud is a horrible crime that preys on individuals’s vulnerabilities.
“During the Christmas interval, loneliness can go away individuals extra vulnerable to scams. Criminals are very crafty and can attempt to exploit the goodwill and feelings of the season to construct belief and manipulate their victims.
“We urge everybody to remain vigilant and by no means share private or monetary data with somebody you don’t know. Always verify who you’re coping with, even when they appear real. If one thing doesn’t really feel proper, cease and search recommendation.”
Professor Andrea Wigfield, co-director of the Campaign to End Loneliness, stated: “Loneliness is a deeply private and infrequently invisible wrestle that may go away individuals feeling eager for connection, particularly throughout the festive season.
“Scammers can exploit this vulnerability, pretending to supply friendship or romance whereas working to steal from their victims. It’s a merciless betrayal of belief that may have devastating results. We urge everybody to be cautious when interacting with strangers on-line or over the telephone and to look out for others who could also be feeling lonely.”
The Take Five to Stop Fraud marketing campaign, which is run by UK Finance, urges individuals to guard themselves within the following methods:
1. Stop. Take a second to cease and assume earlier than parting along with your cash or data. It may hold you secure.
2. Challenge. Ask your self, may it’s faux? It is OK to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will attempt to rush or panic you.
3. Protect. Contact your financial institution instantly for those who assume you’ve got been scammed and report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk.
People can discover out extra about learn how to keep secure from scams at takefive-stopfraud.org.uk.
This Christmas, a easy dialog may make all of the distinction – letting your family and friends know in regards to the 159 quantity, which is tremendous simple to recollect
James Masters, Stop Scams UK
Many banks have signed as much as the 159 name service, which provides individuals a memorable quantity to dial if they’re fearful that one thing is likely to be a rip-off. The quantity offers a simple-to-remember path to their financial institution if somebody receives surprising contact a couple of monetary matter.
James Masters, head of communications at Stop Scams UK, stated: “This Christmas, a easy dialog may make all of the distinction – letting your family and friends know in regards to the 159 quantity, which is tremendous simple to recollect.
“It offers a secure and direct option to join along with your financial institution for those who assume you’re being scammed.
“If you or somebody will get a name a couple of monetary matter that appears off, cease, grasp up, and dial 159.”
The survey for Take Five was carried out amongst 2,000 individuals throughout the UK by Censuswide in December.
