'Too good' deals may be scams, islanders warned
People in Guernsey have been warned to treat deals that seem "too good to be true" as possible scams by the island's police.
Guernsey Police released the advice for Safer Internet Day on Tuesday.
The force advised people to be sceptical of deals, prizes or investment opportunities that promised "high returns with little risk".
Laura Simpson, from the high tech crime unit, said criminals were using cutting-edge tools like artificial intelligence (AI) to create "highly-convincing" scams.
Scams created with generative AI, which can create realistic written text, images and videos, can be much harder for people to spot compared to more old-fashioned spam and scams, she said.
Ms Simpson said deepfake AI technology, which creates convincing images or videos of real people, could "create sexualised images from innocent pictures shared on social media", which could then be used to blackmail victims.
Police said people should follow these steps to help spot potential scams.
Unsolicited Messages: Be wary of unexpected emails, texts, or social media messages, especially those asking for personal information or money
Too Good to Be True: Offers that seem too good to be true often are. Be sceptical of deals, prizes, or investment opportunities that promise high returns with little risk
Urgency and Pressure: Scammers often create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to act quickly. Take your time to verify the legitimacy of the request
Suspicious Links and Attachments: Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These can contain malware or lead to phishing websites
They also said people should use these techniques to help them avoid scams.
Verify the Source: Always verify the identity of the person or organization contacting you. Use official contact information from their website, not the details provided in the message
Use Strong Passwords: Create strong, unique passwords for your online accounts and enable two-factor authentication where possible
Keep Software Updated: Ensure your devices and software are up to date with the latest security patches
Educate Yourself: Stay informed about common scams and how they operate. Knowledge is your best defence
Police said anyone who suspected they had been the victim of a scam should contact them as well as their bank and the website or app they used.
Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.
Police warn islanders about 'large-scale' scam
Warning after firms caught by bank scam
'Email scam' was training exercise, says regulator
Safer Internet Day
Guernsey Police
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Arrest after three deaths linked to blue pills
A 45-year-old man has been arrested by police investigating the deaths of three men in Plymouth. The Devon and Cornwall force said the man was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs. Police said two men aged in their 20s and 30s were pronounced dead at an address in Welbeck Avenue on Saturday and a third man, aged in his 30s, was found dead in a property on North Road East the following day. The deaths continue to be treated as linked and unexplained, and Plymouth City Council believes they are linked to blue pills being sold illegally as Valium. More news stories for Devon Listen to the latest news for Devon Drugs found at the scene of the deaths have been sent for testing, said police. The suspect has been released on police bail while inquiries continue. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Devon and Cornwall Police Warning after three deaths linked to blue pills
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Teens found guilty of killing man as he sat in car
Two teenage drug dealers have been found guilty of fatally attacking a man "in cold blood" while he was sitting in a car in east London. Abdul Jalloh, 23, was stabbed in the neck in a car park on the Isle of Dogs on 5 August last year. At the Old Bailey, Shamiah McKenzie, 18, was found guilty of murder while Codee Godfrey, 19, was convicted of the manslaughter having been acquitted of murder. The court heard that after the attack, the pair changed their clothes and then mingled with the police officers who were searching for the killers. McKenzie and Godfrey had been circling the area on their bicycles for more than an hour and were both armed, the trial heard. They were disguised in dark clothing and their faces were covered by balaclavas, said prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC. Within seconds of approaching Mr Jalloh, he was attacked. "Abdul Jalloh did not stand a chance. He could offer no resistance. He was outnumbered, unarmed and vulnerable behind the wheel of his car," said Ms Carberry. The defendants rapidly cycled away, throwing a knife and its sheath along with McKenzie's bicycle into the River Thames at Caledonia Wharf and made their way to Godfrey's home. There, the pair packed their clothing - some of it bloodstained - into bags and changed into shorts and t-shirts, before disposing of the bags in nearby bushes. "Such was their confidence in their changed appearance that they mingled along the Thames Path with police officers who were searching for Abdul's killers," said Ms Carberry. The killers finally handed themselves into police three days later, the court heard. The defendants were two young men who had "no qualms about settling a score with the blade of a knife", said Ms Carberry. McKenzie and Godfrey were a drug-dealing team who used Godfrey's home on the Isle of Dogs as a base, the trial heard. Inside the bags found discarded in bushes, police found £3,000 worth of cannabis bagged up and ready for sale and £2,000 in cash. Also found in the bushes was McKenzie's phone which showed in the two-month period leading up to Mr Jalloh's death, 570 images of knives were saved on the phone, mostly taken during internet browsing. Four days before the killing, a photograph of a row of four Rambo knives and machetes in sheaths was on his phone. A picture of a knife in a sheath with the text "someone's going to get battered today" was uploaded on to the phone two days before the killing. Before the start of the trial, McKenzie pleaded guilty to possessing a knife and both defendants admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply. Giving evidence in his defence, McKenzie admitted stabbing Mr Jalloh, but claimed he had been acting in self-defence. Godfrey did not give evidence. The jury deliberated its verdicts for more than 44 hours. Both men will be sentenced on 20 June. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Isle of Dogs fatal stabbing sees two men charged Man fatally stabbed in Tower Hamlets is named HM Courts Service
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Jackson Summer Safety Series kicks off at Loomis Park
JACKSON, Mich. (WLNS) — The City of Jackson's police and fire departments are teaming up for a family-friendly event—with the goal of highlighting the importance of public safety. 'You can't have public safety without community. It's just that simple,' said Chief of Jackson Police Chris Simpson. Wednesday's gathering was the first of three, and an opportunity for local first responders to educate and stress the importance of working together with the people they serve to keep everyone safe. 'People in our community understand the need for public safety. They appreciate their public safety and we want to ensure that they know that we appreciate them as well,' Simpson said. City officials joined the Group Violence Intervention Program in serving up hot dogs, playing games, and giving away prizes to the dozens of people who stopped by Loomis Park. 'It's a piece of the program for our community outreach piece. And it's very important. The importance of it lies in the collaboration with our community, the getting the feedback from our community, and the appreciation of our community,' Simpson said. For parent Peggy Jennings, the event also means kids making connections with lawe enforcement. 'I think it's important for people to know the local police officers in your area and the fire department. Amelia is on the spectrum and I think it's important for her to know the police officers,' Jennings said. Chief Simpson says continued community engagement will be important for public safety this summer and beyond. 'There's a big component of community because community drives us for our mission and our mission is to serve our community and protect it as well,' Simpson said. The Summer Safety Series will continue next month on Wednesday, July 23, at the MLK Recration Center, and will conclude on Aug. 13, at Kiwanis Park. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
