SPEAK TO FRAUD EXPERTS AS THE TAKE FIVE TO STOP FRAUD ROADSHOW COMES TO INTU TRAFFORD CENTRE

1. The Take Five to Stop Fraud roadshow is visiting intu Trafford Centre on Wednesday 22 January 
2. Roadshow follows new research that found 80% of people say they could confidently identify a fraudulent approach
3. Yet, in a separate quiz of over 63,000 people only 9% who completed the Take Five Too Smart To Be Scammed? Quiz scored full marks  
4. Take Five to Stop Fraud Week (22-26 January) launched to help people protect themselves against fraud

The roadshow arrives as new research from Take Five highlights the UK public could be leaving themselves vulnerable to financial fraud by being confident in their ability to spot a scam.

Attendees of the roadshow, part of Take Five to Stop Fraud Week, will have the opportunity to speak with fraud prevention experts for more in-depth advice and the chance to tell their stories about fraud and scams on the Take Five Big Yellow Sofa.

The roadshow is run by Take Five to Stop Fraud, the campaign backed by financial institutions and the Government to help protect consumers. Research for the campaign found four in five (80%) people said they could confidently identify a fraudulent approach1.

Take Five to Stop Fraud put those perceptions to the test, inviting the UK public to take the Too Smart To Be Scammed? quiz and test whether they could separate scam texts and emails from genuine messages, with over 63,000 individuals taking part from across the UK2.

The results contradict the public’s perceptions of their savviness to spot scams and fraud, with only 9% of those who completed the quiz answering all eight questions correctly3.

The research is released to launch Take Five to Stop Fraud Week, when finance companies across the country, along with the UK Government and other commercial, public and third sector organisations are helping people to protect themselves from financial fraud. The week was launched to give people the knowledge they need to spot fraud and scams encouraging them to confidently challenge any requests for their personal or financial information.

Figures from UK Finance showed that £366.4 million was lost to financial fraud in the first half of 2017, with a further £101.2 million lost through authorised transfer scams4.

Commenting on the findings, Katy Worobec, Managing Director of Economic Crime at UK Finance said: 

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“Criminals are using very sophisticated methods, so it’s more important than ever that people are aware of how to protect themselves from fraud. During Take Five to Stop Fraud Week we want to spread the message that you should always question any calls, texts or emails asking for your details out of the blue. Stop and think before you give away any information, no matter how legitimate the person sounds – and remember – it’s My Money? My Info? I don’t think so. If you are unsure, then hang up and don’t reply and contact the organisation directly on a number you trust.”

Detective Inspector Karen Ryan from Greater Manchester Police added:

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“Online fraud and criminality is an ever-increasing risk in Greater Manchester and we are absolutely committed to disrupting those who commit offences, working with partners to catch criminals from outside the region targeting our residents and also preventing people from falling victim. But everyone can play a part.

“Please take five to think about what you do and what you respond to online – if you have any concerns you can call us on 101, or 999 in an emergency, or you can report it directly to the National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre on 0300 123 2040.”

 

To help consumers protect themselves the Take Five campaign has issued three key pieces of advice:

1. A genuine bank or organisation will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN, full password or to move money to another account.
2. Only give out your personal or financial details to use a service that you have given your consent to, that you trust and that you are expecting to be contacted by.
3. Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected email or text. If you’re approached with a request for personal information, don’t provide it. Instead, contact the company directly using a known email or phone number.

To find out more about Take Five visit www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk