In the last 24 hours almost £180,000 has been fraudulently obtained from islanders as a result of numerous scams that have been brought to our attention.

We’ve received 5 reports of these scams locally, involving text messages and emails. 

The Fraudsters are using local companies and businesses to make these scams appear real to islanders. So far, the text messages say they are from Nat West and Lloyds Bank, telling the receiver that their debit card has recently been used and they ask them to call a fraud prevention number in the text message.  This number is NOT a fraud prevention number, the person on the end of the phone will ask for personal information such as bank account numbers and pin numbers.

The other method is an email received asking for payment of an invoice that is not legitimate. Both the text messages and the emails are SCAMS. Real organisations never ask you for this information. Any communication from banks will use your actual name (not ‘Sir’, ‘Madam’ or ‘Customer’) and possibly another verification of authenticity such as your postcode or part of your account number.

We urge the public NOT to call these numbers or respond to these emails, they are SCAMS. Our advice will always be NEVER disclose passwords or other personal information in response to an email, phone call, text, social media post or letter purporting to be from your bank or other official organisation, however genuine they may seem.

However desperate you are to check your account or make a payment, we would advise that you don’t bank online when you’re using unsecured Wi-Fi, such as a hotspot in a café or hotel. Logging in to a hotspot is no indication it’s secure, so use 3G/4G instead, or wait until you get home to your secure Wi-Fi.

Only ever visit your bank’s website by entering the address into your browser or using a bookmark you have created using the correct address.

Don’t lend your payment cards or reveal their PINs – to anybody else, however trustworthy they may seem. Always check your statements, and if you notice any unusual transactions report them immediately.

You never know if the person behind or beside you is dishonest. You need to be aware of ‘shoulder surfers’ viewing your computer or mobile device screen, or at the ATM.

Also, if you spot anything irregular at the ATM like an unusual card slot or fascia, don’t use it, but report it to your bank.