Scammers ARE Criminals!

Journal

Volume 2

I

PREPARING to undertake an online payment today, my bank displayed a scam beware notice (below).

It will be common to all banks, but there is no harm in reproducing it here. I do so because I have, like millions more in the past, been caught out. Unfortunately, policing does not respond always in the way to which my generation experienced.

‘Scammer’ means I am a criminal. I intend to take what’s lawfully yours, for myself. And what’s more, I’ve conscience.

Hollywood studios - and studios the world over - portray crime as an attractive, and respectable way of life with apparently great riches.

Scammer does not mean someone is playing around; seeing what they can hack in to; and we hear of ‘nerds and geeks’ still in teenage, and people saying, oh it’s just a phase. They’re kids, exploring, like every generation does.

We live in a society that sees many parents unable to control their children, but threatening violence, intimidation, and worse, to any who should so much as dare to suggest that their kids are acting unlawfully. God forbid, if you happen to be a teacher who comes up against such parental indiscipline.

II

Scammers ARE criminals. They are intent on stealing your money. They will pretend to be that whey they are not.

A criminal record is what they deserve. A record that stays with them. A record that marks them.

III

I support the police. I am a paid-up member of the National Association of Retired Police Officers.

However, the police must do a great deal more to secure the advance of that unconditional support to that which I was used to, as a serving police officer - respect.

IV

Take heed of all of these warnings by your banks and building societies and other public and private institutions.

Even this evening, an email has come in from an individual reminding me that £499 will be deducted from my account for the item I’ve ordered; and that if I have second thoughts, just call one of three numbers, “so that we can help you”.

Those numbers are global.

The email has been sent to Fraud Phishing.

Public Warning Notice of Scammers

In the UK, you are now twice as likely to be the target of an impersonation scam.

Criminals are experts at pretending to be from organisations like your bank, the financial conduct authority (FCA), your Internet service provider, and even the police, so it is important to know what to look out for.

Criminals will create a sense of urgency. If you are told that "your money is at risk" or "your account will be blocked" if you do not act immediately, this is a scam.

The bank and the police will never ask you to move your money to "keep it safe" or to "Support a criminal investigation" – this is a scam.

Never share information like your card reader code or one-time passcode. If someone is asking you to do this, it is a scam.

Criminals can spoof their phone number to make it look like you are receiving a call from a genuine organisation. If in doubt, hang up and call the organisation directly using a number you've personally found.

Kenneth Thomas Webb
Liverpool and Gloucestershire

June 9, 2022
All Rights Reserved

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© Kenneth Thomas Webb 2022

One of the Fifteen Founding Members of the Leaders Lodge

First written July 29, 2021