Fraud & Financial Scams
Question: Can I report Fraud or Scams to the IWF?
Answer: No, this falls outside the IWF’s remit, please see below for further details
Question: I have suffered a misuse of my credit card online, what should I do?
Answer: Try your Credit Card company initially – your purchases may be covered by a guarantee (you should check the small print in the Terms of Conditions).
Question: I have come across an example of; Online fraud, financial scams, bogus home working schemes and bogus competitions, where can I report it?
Answer: The Metropolitan Police website's Fraud Alert pages have been set up in conjunction with the Economic and Specialist Crime OCU as a resource to assist in combating specific types of fraud, and to prevent you becoming a victim of crime, through the prevention advice and disruption activity.
Trading Standards is also running a website where you can report fraud and online scams, this website is called "Rip off Tip off" . For more information on online financial fraud, please visit Bank Safe Online.
The Money Made Easy website may have the answers you are looking for. Their Scams & Swindles section gives more information about how the swindlers are trying to trap you and how to avoid being caught.
Question: I am a victim of online fraud, where can I report it?
Answer: You will need to attend or telephone your local police station to make a report.
Question: I have been sent an email from someone claiming to be from another country, suggesting I can earn money with their assistance, what should I do?
Answer: DO NOT REPLY TO THESE LETTERS or emails. Each Police Constabulary throughout the UK has a dedicated officer to deal with these frauds.
There is also more advice on the Metropolitan Police website.
Question: I have been sent an email offering a home working opportunity that is requesting personal
financial details is this legitimate and what should I do about it?
Answer: Unless you know the person who sent you the email, you are have almost certainly received an unsolicited bulk email, also known as spam. These type of messages are designed to extract personal information for the Spamer to use fraudulently, DO NOT provide any information. Additionally, do not respond to the email and follow best practices as decribed in our FAQ on spam.
Question: Can you give me some advice about how to bank safely?
Answer: No as this is outside our remit. Please visit Bank Safe Online for more information.
Page Created: Wed, September 8th, 2004
Page Modified: Tue, February 26th, 2008
