The most prominent scams currently circulating in the UK include:

1. Authorised Push Payment (APP) Fraud. Criminals impersonate banks, HMRC, or the Police, claiming your account is compromised and instructing you to transfer funds to a ‘safe account’.
2. Quishing & QR Code scams. Fraudsters use fake QR codes on parking meters, restaurant menus, or delivery slips, or email them directly to redirect you to phishing sites which steal personal and financial details.
3. FCA Impersonation. Scammers pose as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and charge fake fees for “compensation” or “antimoney laundering” clearance.
4. Delivery and Service Phishing. Fake texts or emails claiming to be from Royal Mail, Evri, BT, or Netflix, state that you missed a package, have a parcel fee, or that your subscription has failed, pushing you to a malicious link.
5. Consumer and Service Scams:
   1. Dodgy loft insulation. Scammers cold call home owners, usually immediately asking questions such as “are you the homeowner” or “how old are you?” before offering to install sub-standard spray foam insulation at heavily inflated prices (or other works).
   2. Energy Refunds & Debt Collection. Fraudsters pose as energy suppliers, offering fake refunds or claiming you have an outstanding balance following recent supplier collapses.

5(i) above or similar have recently been doing the rounds in our area. I know we have had most of these before, but they are pretty relentless and victims are still falling for them.

Info from Which? and local sources. Thank you.

Peter Hine
Watch Co-ord Sibford and Burdrop