Carmarthenshire Police have seen a rise in reported scams. Luckily those reporting these scams have recognised that it is a scam and informed their local police and have not been victims.
Carmarthenshire police are committed to reducing the effects of all types of fraud. Many of the scams listed below are operated by fraudsters from outside the United Kingdom and we are unable to pursue a meaningful investigation owing to issues of jurisdiction. Our priorities, therefore, are of prevention and disruption.
- If you are approached by letter then do what you would with any other junk mail and throw it in the rubbish bin having first shredded it.
- If you are approached by e-mail do not reply. Forward it to the abuse service of the Internet Service provider from where it originated. Active your spam blocker against that particular address and then delete it.
- If you are approached by telephone do not give out any information and hang up.
Scams often have similar features that may alert you to the fact that they are not genuine:
- If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is;
- If you are asked for money up front to pay unexpected fees (such as taxes or charges) before your ‘prize’, ‘winnings’ or ‘profits’ can be released;
- you are asked to provide your bank account, credit card details or other sensitive personal information;
- you are put under pressure to reply immediately “or the money will be given to someone else “; and
- you are asked to keep the details secret.
Please remember that you have not been targeted personally. Scam letters, e-mails, telephone calls and faxes are sent out in their thousands daily to individuals and companies worldwide.
If you have become a victim of fraud and you live in Carmarthenshire you should contact the Dyfed-Powys Police Contact Centre on 101.
