Scammers trying to exploit the cost of living crisis

North Yorkshire Police are urging us to stay wary of "get rich quick" schemes posted online

ronstik / Alamy Stock Photo
Author: Kathy GreenPublished 22nd Aug 2022

There's a warning that scammers are trying to exploit people who are struggling with the rising cost of living.

North Yorkshire Police say be wary of schemes that seem too good to be true. Andy Fox is the Financial Abuse Safeguarding officer at North Yorkshire Police says "I understand how difficult it is in the current climate for people, and how tempting it can to earn that extra bit of money to heat your home or put food on the table. the pressures that people must be under and therefore it is very easy to fall victim to fraud'.

He says scammers often post adverts online and if you click through "you are contacted very quickly by somebody pretending to be from a crypto investment firm who will persuade you to invest everything that you don't have but unfortunately, the reverse is true."

The Government have also put out a warning that criminals trying to scam people about their cost of living payments.

For more information and help or to report if you think you have been a victim of fraud go to Action Fraud the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre.

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