We’ve had reports recently from residents who have received cold calls from people purporting to be from Sky or Amazon.
These callers often tell you that they are investigating a fraudulent employee.
They will ask you to install an app such as Teamviewer, Anydesk or SupRemo (many others exist), which will allow remote access to your device. Once installed, the caller asks you to access your online bank account and states that they are putting money into your account to help catch the fraudulent employee or for some other plausible sounding reason.
What they have actually done is transfer money from one of your accounts into another of your accounts, to make it appear to you that they have deposited money in your account.
They will also now have access to your account and can control what happens with your money.
DC Gareth Jordan from the Cyber Crime Team said:
“These types of crime play upon people looking to help catch fraudulent employees – when in fact the fraudulent ones are the people calling pretending to be from Sky or Amazon. Do not install software /apps that allow others to connect to your computer or mobile device.”
You can help protect yourself from these types of scams by following this advice:
• If you receive a call like this remember, Amazon or Sky are not calling – it is a criminal that is calling that is trying to access your money in your online accounts.
• Amazon or Sky will never ask you to help track down fraudulent activity by one of their employees – they have all the resources to do that already.
• Never accept or download remote software to your computer that allows other people access to it
• Do not sign into your bank account online if you have installed remote access software otherwise you are likely to lose all your money.
• If someone on a cold call asks you to download a remote access app or access your bank account – end the call.
• If you have received a call like this, and you’ve accessed your account or transferred money – always contact your bank on the number on the back of your bank card.
You should report any incidents where you’ve fallen victim to this type of fraud to police, either online at bit.ly/
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