Here at London Mutual Credit Union, we are all about keeping your hard-earned money safe and secure. Lately, we have noticed a rise in crafty impersonation scams aimed at people like you. But don’t worry—by the time you finish reading this, you will be armed with the knowledge to spot these scams a mile away and keep those fraudsters at bay. After all, no one messes with our members!
What are Impersonation Scams?
Impersonation fraud occurs when criminals pretend to be from a trusted organisation and convince you to make a payment or share personal and financial details. This organisation could be a bank, the police, a delivery company, a utility provider, a government department like HMRC, or even a friend or family member.
These scams often start with an email, phone call, text message, or social media contact that appears to be from a legitimate source. The criminal might claim your account is at risk and ask you to move money to a ‘safe account’, or they might pose as a police officer saying your money needs to be analysed as part of an investigation.
When impersonating friends or family, scammers often invent urgent reasons for needing money, such as being stranded abroad or paying an urgent debt.
How to Spot Impersonation Fraud:
- You receive an unexpected urgent request for personal or financial information, payment, or to move money.
- You get a “friend” or “family member” message asking for financial help.
- There’s pressure to act immediately, often with a sense of urgency or panic.
- You’re asked to transfer money to another account for ‘safekeeping’.
- You’re asked to purchase high-value goods or vouchers to cover fines.
- You’re asked for cash or payment as part of a “police investigation”.
- The sender’s email address is slightly different from the genuine one.
Staying Safe from Impersonation Fraud:
- Stop and think before responding to requests for personal or financial information.
- Never allow remote access to your devices from unsolicited callers.
- Avoid logging into financial accounts using public Wi-Fi.
- Remember: London Mutual Credit Union will never ask you to move money to a ‘safe account’.
- If in doubt, hang up and call us back on our official number.
- Only share personal or financial information with services you’ve consented to and expect contact from.
At London Mutual Credit Union, we’re here to help. If you receive a suspicious communication claiming to be from us, please don’t respond. Instead, contact us directly using our official channels to verify its authenticity.
If you’ve received a suspicious email, you can forward it to [email protected] to report it.
Your financial security is our priority. We can work together to protect your finances from these sophisticated scams by staying informed and vigilant. If you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our dedicated member support team.
