Fraud
What is fraud?
Fraud is when someone steals property, goods or money by tricking, or trying to trick you. Many people are taken in by fraudsters - criminals that use clever tactics and tricks to try and manipulate people.
Some common words to describe types of fraud include: 'scam', 'con', 'trick', 'sham', 'false representation', 'swindle', 'deceit', and many more. One common tactic used by fraudsters is to use a false identity to commit crimes.
For example:
- They might use fake name badges and identification.
- They might deceive you into buying goods or services that are not for sale, or don't exist.
- They may provide a service, often of poor quality, but charge you many times the original amount quoted, without reason.
- They may trick you into giving them money, even large amounts, possibly over a long period of time.
- They may resort to trying to frighten, bully or harass you to get more money.
Other types of fraud
Romance:
Romance fraud is a type of crime where a person uses a fake profile to build a friendship or relationship with you for fraudulent, financial gain.
They will spend significant amounts of time talking and engaging with you to gain your trust and create a relationship with you before they ask for money. To help keep yourself safe, you can do the following:
- If using an online dating service, stay on their messenger service to talk until you are confident the person is who they say they are.
- Never send money to someone who you haven't met in person
- Avoid giving away personal details
If you are concerned that a person you are speaking to may not be who they say they are, you can do a reverse image search to find out if the photo they have been using has been taken from someone else. Upload the photo they are using to google image search.
If you think you have been a victim of romance fraud, or you have suspicions of it, you can report it online to Operation Signature at Sussex Police or you can call 101.
Alternatively you can report suspicions anonymously to Scamalytics who use the information to create a 'blacklist' of scammers and remove them from dating sites.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of romance fraud, you can find further advice and support by contacting the services listed to the right.
Cyber fraud:
It is estimated that at least 84% of fraud reported nationally is cyber-enabled. By using ICT, it allows criminals to target a much bigger audience.
If you have been a victim of a cyber scam or fraud, you can report it to Action Fraud.
If you have been a victim of cyber fraud and the crime is in progress or it involves a vulnerable victim you should report directly to the police either by calling 101 or 999 (if it's an emergency).
Below are some guides that have been created to help business, organisations and charities to help protect themselves from cyber crime.
The Little Book of Cyber Scams guide has been created by the Metropolitan Police Service to offer advice to individuals and small enterprises on how to stay safe in the cyber world.
The Small Business Guide contains information around the most common cyber attacks. The advice in this guide will help significantly increase your protection from the most common types of cyber-crime.
The Cyber Security Toolkit for Boards helps board members understand cyber security which is central to an organisations health and resilience.
Phishing Attacks: Defending Your Organisation shows how organisations can help defend themselves against malicious emails and other phishing.
Password Policies is key to keeping yourself and your information safe.
Business fraud:
Businesses can also be at risk of fraud, especially online. You can help minimise the risk of this by:
- Implementing robust financial controls
- Storing financial documents securely, shredding them when no longer needed
- Checking bank statements carefully, and reporting anything you do not recognise or find suspicious
- Ensuring your computer software is secure and updated
- Using effective passwords to protect your data
The Cyber Resilience Centre for the South East supports and helps protect small and medium sized enterprises, supply chain businesses and third sector organisations against cyber crime.
They can help provide security awareness training, vulnerability assessments and other guidance around protecting yourself.
How to report fraud:
If you would like to report fraud, you can do so on Action Fraud's website.
Please note that Action Fraud are a reporting centre only and will be unable to update you on the progress of a case. All reports are sent to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, run by the City of London Police, to assess.
Alternatively, if you or someone you know is vulnerable, you can report directly to Operation Signature at Sussex Police online or by calling 101. Operation Signature is a Sussex Police campaign to identify and support vulnerable victims of fraud. You can find further advice and information on the Sussex Police website.
You can also report scam mail to the Royal Mail for their awareness.
Community and Education Events:
If you believe your community would benefit from an education event, please register your interest by emailing safespacesussex@sussex-pcc.gov.uk. These will be passed over to relevant partners in the local authority for their knowledge when organising future events.
Sussex Police Webinars
If you want to find out more information on how to increase your online safety, Surrey and Sussex Police Cyber Crime Unit are holding two webinars:
⚠️ Gentle Learning Version – Monday, 4 March 6PM
Tailored for those less confident with technology, this session adopts a slower pace to ensure everyone feels at ease while enhancing their online safety. Webinar - Cyber Security for Humans : Gentle Learning Version Tickets, Mon 4 Mar 2024 at 18:00 | Eventbrite
💻 General Version – Monday, 18 March 6PM
This session is your go-to guide for mastering essential strategies to significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to Cyber Crime. Cyber Security for Humans - Easy Tips to Stay Safe in a Digital Age Tickets, Mon 18 Mar 2024 at 18:00 | Eventbrite
West Sussex Digital Safety Team
There are various community events currently being held in West Sussex for those who may wish to learn more about frauds and scams, and how to help protect themselves. The following events are all free to attend and you can book on by contacting them directly with the details below.
You can also keep up to date with the latest fraud and online safety events by signing up to the Staying Safe Online E-newsletter and register or login to your account, and tick 'Staying Safe Online' to subscribe.
Safe Against Scams
The following events have been organised by West Sussex County Council's Digital Safety Team:
19th April 2024, 10:00am - 11:30am. Crawley Library.
Crawley Library - Are you scam savvy? Tickets, Fri 19 Apr 2024 at 10:00 | Eventbrite
20th May 2024, 10:00am - 11:30am. Bognor Regis Library.
Bognor Regis Library - Are you scam savvy? Tickets, Mon 20 May 2024 at 10:00 | Eventbrite
17th June 2024, 10:00am - 11:30am. Shoreham Library.
Shoreham Library - Are you scam savvy? Tickets, Mon 17 Jun 2024 at 10:00 | Eventbrite
If you would like some free digital safety support from a friendly and patient volunteer, please phone 0330 222 3185 or email: DigitalAmbassadors@westsussex.gov.uk Find out more: www.westsussex.gov.uk/staying-safe-online.
You can also read more about their work here.
Library computer buddies and connect volunteers
Library Computer Buddy Volunteers offer free 1:2:1 digital support sessions which can help you with your computer queries in East and West Sussex. Please see the links below to book onto a session.
East Sussex- or phone 01323 463759
Brighton and Hove- or phone 01273 290800
Other resources
For more information and guidance about specific types of fraud, the following resources have been collected:
Telephone
- Truecall leaflet (.pdf, 2Mb) - Truecall is a small device which blocks nuisance calls. This leaflet explains how it works.
- Truecall website - The Truecall website contains a wealth of information and advice about how you can keep yourself safe from scams, as well as about some of the products and services which are available to help you.
- Little Booklet of Phone Scams (.pdf, 0Mb) - This leaflet from Sussex and Surrey Police forces contains practical and useful information to help you identify and avoid scams.
Mobile
- O2 Gurus - O2 Gurus are a service which offers in store help with fixing problems, learning new skills, backing up data, security and giving your device a health check. Appointments with O2 Gurus can be booked online for your local O2 store.
- Get Safe Online - The Get Safe Online website provides unbiased, factual and easy to understand information on online safety. There is also a section on keeping safe while using the internet on a smartphone or tablet.
- Little Booklet of Phone Scams (.pdf, 0Mb) - This leaflet from Sussex and Surrey Police forces contains practical and useful information to help you identify and avoid scams.
- Little Book of Big Scams (pages 24 and 24) - This useful booklet from Sussex Police provides information about mobile phone scams on pages 23 & 24
For further tips, advice and guidance please see your phone providers help pages. You can do this by searching your provider on the internet or clicking the links below.
- Click here for O2
- Click here for Virgin
- Click here for EE
- Click here for three
- Click here for Vodafone
Identity Theft
- Cifas website - Cifas is a not for profit fraud prevention membership organisation. If you've been a victim of identity fraud, or feel your personal data is vulnerable due to a breach they may be able to help.
- Get Safe Online - The Get Safe Online website provides unbiased, factual and easy to understand information on online safety. They also have a section on preventing identitf theft online.
- Get Safe Online: Identity theft leaflet (.pdf, 1Mb) - Top tips for protecting your identity
- Little Book of Big Scams (page 5) - This booklet from Sussex Police provides information about protecting your personal information on page 5.
- Little Book of Cyber Scams (.pdf, 4Mb) - Jointly produced by Sussex and Surrey Police this booklet contains a wealth of information to help you keep safe from cyber scams
Online Hacking (individuals)
- Cyber essentials website - Cyber Essentials is a simple but effective, Government backed scheme that will help you to protect your organisation, whatever its size, against a whole range of the most common cyber attacks.
- Get Safe Online - The Get Safe Online website provides unbiased, factual and easy to understand information on online safety. They also have a section on preventing identitf theft online.
- The Little Leaflet of Cyber Advice (.pdf, 4Mb) - This short leaflet from Sussex and Surrey Police forces includes useful tips to protect you from online hacking.
- Little Book of Cyber Scams (.pdf, 4Mb) - Jointly produced by Sussex and Surrey Police this booklet contains a wealth of information to help you keep safe from cyber scams
Online Hacking (businesses)
- Cyber essentials website - Cyber Essentials is a simple but effective, Government backed scheme that will help you to protect your organisation, whatever its size, against a whole range of the most common cyber attacks.
- Cyber security: Small business guide - A handy guide to help small businesses improve their cyber security
- Cyber security: Small charity guide - A handy guide to help small charities improve their cyber security
- Cyber security: Toolkit for boards - A handy guide to help boards to understand cyber security
- Phishing attacks: Defending your organisation - How to defend your organisation from email phishing attacks
- Phishing attacks video - A video guide to preventing the damage to your organisation from phishing attacks
- Get Safe Online - The Get Safe Online website provides unbiased, factual and easy to understand information on online safety. They also have a section on preventing identitf theft online.
- The Little Leaflet of Cyber Advice (.pdf, 4Mb) - This short leaflet from Sussex and Surrey Police forces includes useful tips to protect you from online hacking.
- Little Book of Cyber Scams (.pdf, 4Mb) - Jointly produced by Sussex and Surrey Police this booklet contains a wealth of information to help you keep safe from cyber scams
- Passwords- Keep your systems safe (.pdf, 5Mb) - Produced by Sussex Police, this booklet contains information around simple steps that can be taken to create and maintain strong passwords to keep your systems safe.
Online Shopping
- Get Safe Online - The Get Safe Online website provides unbiased, factual and easy to understand information on online safety. You'll also find information about how to shop online safely, and what to do if you become a victim of online crime
- Little Book of Big Scams (page 26) - This helpful booklet from Sussex Police contains information about keeping safe while shopping online on page 26.
- Safe online payments (.pdf, 1Mb) - Useful information to help you make online payments safely
Banking
- It's a scam (.pdf, 0Mb) - A short guide from Sussex Police to help you to spot banking scams
- Little Book of Big Scams (pages 20 - 22) - This helpful booklet from Sussex Police has information about banking and payment card scams on pages 20 - 22.
- Safe online payments (.pdf, 1Mb) - Useful information to help you make online payments safely
For further tips, advice and guidance on banking and fraud please see you banks support pages. You can do this by searching your bank online or clicking on the below links.
- Click here for Barclays
- Click here for NatWest
- Click here for Nationwide
- Click here for Lloyds
- Click here for RBS
- Click here for First direct
- Click here for Santander
Social Engineering
- Take 5 Campaign - Take Five is a national campaign that offers straight-forward and impartial advice to help everyone protect themselves from preventable financial fraud.
- It's a Scam (.pdf, 0Mb) - A short guide from Sussex Police to help you to spot banking scams
- Little Book of Big Scams (.pdf, 0Mb) - This helpful booklet from Sussex Police has handy hints to protect yourself on pages 37 - 39.
- Protecting Vulnerable Victims of Fraud (.pdf, 1Mb) - Quick tips to remember to keep yourself safe from scams
- Little Booklet of Phone Scams (.pdf, 0Mb) - This leaflet from Sussex and Surrey Police forces contains practical and useful information to help you identify and avoid scams.
- Fighting Doorstep Crime* (.pdf, 0Mb) - Information to help you avoid doorstep scams *please note we are aware that this document is rotated incorrectly and will replace it with another version imminently
- Get Safe Online - The Get Safe Online website provides unbiased, factual and easy to understand information on online safety.
- Get Safe Online leaflet (.pdf, 3Mb) - Your essential guide to staying safe online
- Phishing- Don't get caught out (.pdf, 5Mb) - A booklet produced by Sussex Police around phishing.
Other Resources
- Fraud Protection Toolkit- The ultimate guide on how to minimise the risk of fraud
- Romance fraud leaflet - Use these steps to keep yourself, and your loved ones, safe from romance fraudsters
- Romance fraud bookmark(.pdf, 1Mb) - A handy acronym to help raise awareness of romance fraud, on a bookmark
- Sextortion Phishing Scams- Information on what to do if you've received an email that's trying to blackmail you
- Fighting Doorstep Crime* (.pdf, 0Mb) - Information to help you avoid doorstep scams *please note we are aware that this document is rotated incorrectly and will replace it with another version imminently
- Little Book of Big Scams - This helpful booklet from Sussex Police has handy hints to help protect yourself from scams
- Little Book of Cyber Scams (.pdf, 4Mb) - Jointly produced by Sussex and Surrey Police this booklet contains a wealth of information to help you keep safe from cyber scams
- The Little Leaflet of Cyber Advice(.pdf, 4Mb) - This short leaflet from Sussex and Surrey Police forces includes useful tips to protect you from online hacking. 
- Little Booklet of Phone Scams (.pdf, 0Mb)- This leaflet from Sussex and Surrey Police forces contains practical and useful information to help you identify and avoid scams.
- Get Safe Online leaflet (.pdf, 3Mb) - Your essential guide to staying safe online List of upcoming fraud awareness events in West Sussex
- Upcoming events in West Sussex - Online fraud awareness training in West Sussex
- Spot the warning signs of fraud and scams - YouTube video from Sussex Police
- Scam: the secret crime - YouTube video from Sussex Police
- Spot the signs of financial abuse - YouTube video by Public Protection Kent
- Money Mules- YouTube video by the Metropolitan Police
- Romance fraud - YouTube video by Metropolitan Police
- Romance fraud: a victim's story - YouTube video by Hampshire Constabulary
- Backups - Keep your data safe (.pdf, 5Mb) - A booklet produced by Sussex Police around keeping data safe by backing it up
- App updates - Are you up to date? - A booklet produced by Sussex Police to provide advice around the importance of keeping apps updated
- Wi-Fi Hotspots- How to surf safely - A booklet produced by Sussex Police around using public Wi-Fi
- Courier Fraud- A recorded webinar resource produced by the West Sussex Community Safety & Wellbeing Team about Courier Fraud
COVID- 19
Victim Support have created the following leaflets to provide guidance and advice around scams relating to COVID-19