Scam help for forces families and veterans
I served with the Royal Green Jackets from 2000 to 2006, and I'm now an adult instructor with Merseyside Army Cadet Force. Forces life brings its own scam risks. You move house often, buy and book things from a distance, run your life through WhatsApp and Facebook groups, and spend time apart. Scammers know all of that.
The checks I'd tell any forces family
• Moving house: never pay a deposit on a rental you, or someone you trust, haven't seen, in person or on a live video call. Get three written quotes from removal firms and look them up on Companies House. • Delivery texts at a new address: don't tap the link. Go to the courier's own website or app, and forward the text to 7726. • "Hi Mum" or "Hi Dad" messages: if a new number says it's your son or daughter and needs money, call the number you already have for them first. • Group chats: never send anyone a WhatsApp code, even a mate, and turn on two-step verification. • Social media: don't post that you're away, or where, until you're back. Start here • Is This Text a Scam? How to Spot Fake Texts in the UK • What Are the Common Delivery Scams at Christmas? • Why Should You Stop Oversharing on Social Media? • Which Social Media Privacy Settings Should You Lock Down? • How Do You Know If a New Online Shop Is Trustworthy? • What Should You Do the Moment You Suspect a Scam? If it's already happened Call your bank straight away on the number on the back of your card, or 159. Report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. Free checklist Get the free safety checklist. Ask before you act Not sure about a message? Ask in my free Facebook group, Scam Check UK. My book, Spot the Scam, covers the ten cons most likely to catch you out.