Latest news with #crooks
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
Better Business Bureau warns of crooks targeting people who are already victims of scams
In a cruel twist on common scams, the Better Business Bureau is warning the public about crooks who are targeting people who have already been victims of scammers before. The BBB said it's called a Recovery or Refund Scam. In it, thieves pose as government agents or banks then reach out to previous scam victims and promise to get their money back if you pay a fee. Then they disappear. The BBB says to look out for red flags including unsolicited contact about refunds, asking for payment up front, claiming to be with a government agency or law enforcement but are not able to provide proof of that membership or their identity, and finally pressuring you to act fast and keep the transaction a secret. If you are targeted by these scammers you can report it to the BBB at and to the Federal Trade Commission at
The Sun
19-06-2025
- The Sun
The secret settings to ‘scam-proof' your phone, stop crooks stealing your private photos & £1000s from your bank account
THOUSANDS of pounds gone in seconds, your private pics in the hands of strangers, and your loved ones ripped off too – these are just a few of the nightmare consequences of a smartphone scam. I've spent years writing about how to dodge increasingly convincing online cons that cost Brits millions a year - and it only takes a few seconds to avoid disaster by changing settings on your iPhone or Android. Online scams are big business and a recent Ofcom report warned that almost half of Brits have been drawn in by clever scammers. A quarter of those had lost money, with a fifth losing at least £1,000. They can come over the phone, text, or email, or through websites and apps. They may rush you into making an investment, trick you into thinking you're chatting with a loved one, or hoodwink you with the promise of a prize, tech support, or a refund. Now, crooks are even using AI to dish out more convincing scams faster than ever, so it's important you have the absolute best phone settings to avoid being another victim parted from their savings. Here are the iPhone and Android tricks you need to activate immediately to keep yourself and you cash safe. IPHONE TRICK #1 – SILENCE UNKNOWN NUMBERS Cold calls are a classic way for crooks to target you with a scam. So go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Calls > Silence Unknown Callers, then turn it on. This will send any calls from unknown callers straight to voicemail. If it's important, they'll leave a voicemail. You can also read transcriptions of your voicemail in real time if you've got iOS 17 or later (go to Settings > General > Software Update to check). IPHONE TRICK #2 – CALL SCREENING This one isn't out yet, but it'll land on your iPhone with the imminent iOS 26 update (likely in September). Make sure to install that (in Settings > General > Software Update), and then a robot will answer your phone calls for you. 16 It'll ask their name and reason for calling, and write out the answer in real-time on your screen. Then you can decide whether to answer or if it sounds like a scam. This also prevents scammers from being able to hear your voice and cloning it for future cons. IPHONE TRICK #3 – LOCKDOWN MODE One extreme option is to turn on Lockdown Mode – but only do this if you think you're definitely being targeted by scammers. It'll block most message attachment types, as well as links and link previews, as well as incoming FaceTime calls from unknown numbers. 16 You'll also be prevented from automatically connecting to unsafe "non-secure" WiFi networks – and you'll be blocked from adding configuration profiles that let other people change settings on your phone. Your iPhone won't work to its full potential with Lockdown Mode on, so keep that in mind: this is only for extreme cases. To switch it on, just go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode > Turn On Lockdown Mode > Turn On Lockdown Mode, then follow the steps to restart your phone. IPHONE TRICK #4 – AUTHENTICATOR If you've accidentally given up your password, it's not the end of the world – as long as your online accounts also require a special authentication code to log in. You've probably had these coming via SMS, but you can also get them via an app. Authenticator codes from an app are far safer than the ones that come over text, because SMS messages are more easily hacked. And your iPhone has an authenticator code generator built in as standard. Go into the account settings for an app, then choose the option to add two-factor verification. Then scan the code with your iPhone camera, and Apple's iCloud Keychain will suggest adding it to your account. Then when you sign in, iCloud Keychain will automatically fill in the code for you. You can also manually add it by going into the Passwords app, and looking under the Codes tab. Then if you ever accidentally give up your password to an account, crooks still won't be able to log in. IPHONE TRICK #5 – CALL BLOCKING There are lots of apps that maintain giant lists of phone numbers that are known to be spam or scams. And your iPhone can use these apps to automatically block calls from these numbers. First, go to the Apple App Store in the UK, and download some call identification apps, like Truecaller or Whoscall. Then go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification. This will only appear if you've installed some ID apps. 16 16 Now, choose Silence Junk Callers, which will silence calls identified by your phone network as potential spam or fraud. This option may not appear if your phone network hasn't activated it. Then activate any Call Identification apps that you've installed. ANDROID TRICK #1 – SCAM DETECTION Millions of Android phones now have a feature called Scam Detection inside Google Messages. Make sure to update to the latest version of Android. Then when you're receiving texts, AI on your phone will scan your texts to look for "suspicious" signs that you're being scammed. It only works on conversations with non-contacts, and your texts won't be send to Google (unless you report the conversation). You'll see it working if a big red alert pops up that says "Likely Scam" – and then you'll be able report and block the sender. ANDROID TRICK #2 – APP SCANNER Dodgy apps are another way criminals will try to scam you. These apps might even seem legitimate, but they're actually silently harvesting your info or money in the background. Google automatically scans the apps you download from its Play Store – but often the most dangerous apps come are ones that you've installed from elsewhere. Go to the Google Play Store > Profile > Play Protect > Settings > Improve Harmful App Detection and turn it on. This will let Google scan apps that you've downloaded from outside of its own Play Store, potentially spotting scam apps that you've installed. Then you'll get the warnings and can delete them from your phone. ANOTHER SAFETY TRICK – CALL YOUR FAMILY! The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach has another useful scam-busting trick that requires no changes to settings at all... One of the most devastating scams out there right now is the "Hi mum" con. This sees crooks texting parents or their kids posing as the other – saying they're reaching out from a new number and need help. It'll start innocently, but they'll quickly ask for cash for an urgent bill, taxi, or fine. Brits have lost thousands in one go to this brutal con. So call your loved ones today and set up a safe word or phrase. That way, if any of you asks the other for money, you'll be able to verify the request with a safe word. Don't pick something obvious like a place or birthday – and certainly don't write it down anywhere online or on your devices. This is the easiest way to avoid being caught up in a "Hi mum" scam, so don't delay – call your family today. ANDROID TRICK #3 – CALL BLOCKING One option is to outright block calls from unknown numbers. Just go to Phone > More > Settings > Blocked Numbers > Unknown, which blocks calls from private or unidentified numbers. You'll still get calls from phone numbers not stored in your contacts though. And like iPhone, you can also use spam-busting apps to identify scam callers too. Just download an app like Hiya or Truecaller, both of which maintain giant lists of known spammers and scammers. That way, you can easily avoid dodgy calls. ANDROID TRICK #4 – AUTHENTICATOR Like with iPhone, Android phones also have a way to serve up log-in codes. These give you an extra layer of protection on top of your password – and they're safer than the ones you get via text. On Android, the standard option is the Google Authenticator app. It's totally free and will generate log-in codes for apps and websites whenever you need them. That way, even if you accidentally give your password to a scammer, you'll still be protected. ANDROID TRICK #5 – ADVANCED PROTECTION MODE The iPhone's Lockdown Mode doesn't exist on Android – but there's something very similar called Advanced Protection Mode. You'll need to update to the latest Android 16 software (just go to Settings > System > Software Update and follow the instructions). 16 It's designed for VIPs who might be targeted by crooks – like celebs or politicians – but anyone can use it for free. If you toggle the button on, it'll activate a long list of hardcore security features to help you dodge scams and boost your security. That includes preventing your phone from being hacked by a physical cable, using AI to detect scam calls live as they're happening, saving you from unsafe Wi-Fi, and blocking you from unsafe websites and apps. You'll find it in Settings > Google > Personal & Device Safety > Advanced Protection > Device Protection. 16
The Sun
08-05-2025
- The Sun
Astonishing moment Tesco staff lob metal baskets and crates at ‘shoplifter' in fierce standoff as terrified shoppers gawp
THIS is the shocking moment a Tesco worker hurled baskets and storage boxes at a pair of crooks - after apparently ordering them to leave the store. The cause of the incident is unknown, but shoppers were left shaking after the terrifying standoff took place. 4 4 4 The incident seemingly began in a tame manner, with a security guard telling two men to exit the Tesco store. He can be heard on the video saying: 'Take your stuff and go.' Next, one of the men ejected from the store fired back with 'f*** you' prompting the security guard to make a chilling threat. The security guard can be heard saying: 'You come next time and I'll f*** your a** up, okay? Call the police.' Then, the two men volleyed an unidentified object at the Tesco store - prompting the security guard to fire back with an empty storage tray. Tensions reached a boiling point when the men threw yet another storage tray, causing a uniformed worker to hurl a metal basket at them. Finally, the two men toppled a metal shelf which was standing outside the store before hurling another object into the shop. Throughout the video, one terrified shopper can be seen lingering at the edges of the store in order to avoid being caught in the crossfire. The cause of the in-store skirmish is not yet known, but Tesco have said they are investigating. A spokesperson for the supermarket said: "We're investigating what happened here as the conduct does not meet the high standards we set ourselves, and we apologise for this.' Moment would-be Easter egg thiefs are trapped in shop trying to steal five boxes The video was taken by an unknown man who can simply be heard saying: 'I'm recording.' Redditors expressed their horror at the incident through the website's comment section with one simply saying: 'Oh yeah those lads are getting sacked.' Others took a more humorous approach, with another redditor quipping: "Yeah, I normally help carry the shoplifters stuff to their car. Every little helps." However, one commenter - who is in the top 1% of commenters - gave his opinion of what could happen to the workers involved. WaferSensitive4508 said: 'Training pretty much says you are to get yourself out the situation, if you are in a fight and you push someone to stop it, it could be seen as reasonable, but if you throw a punch that could be seen as excessive and then lead to a misconduct. 'It's all about how it's perceived. 'If witnesses / camera sees you doing something that you didn't need to do then your doing too much = your likely going out the door.. 'It sucks I know, but it's always going to rule against the person who's being attacked.' Stores across the country have been battered by crime over recent years, with stores like Greggs becoming easy pickings for thieves. The leader of one London-based gang was found to be in possession of at least £150,000 worth of stolen goods from supermarkets, after the Met cracked down on organised shoplifting. The crackdown also targeted NR Food and Wine in Mitcham and the nearby Capital Food and Wine. Police logged a staggering 516,971 shoplifting incidents last year - up from from 429,873 in 2023. Only a fifth of these incidents ended in a conviction though, as overstretched forces have struggled to keep up with the rate of thefts.
The Sun
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
DVLA issues urgent warning to drivers over simple mistake that could cost you thousands when buying a car
THE DVLA has issued an urgent warning to motorists over a simple mistake that could cost thousands when buying a car. Crooks are becoming increasingly wise to what is being posted online - using personal information to target individuals financially. 2 In a statement posted earlier this week, the driving authority cautioned drivers to be vigilant when sharing documents containing details of their identity online. More specifically, sharing a V5C log book on social media could lead to identity theft, which could leave you thousands of pounds in debt. These documents contain key information on a car such as the vehicle's registration and identity number, and engine specification. But they also hold a plethora of information about owners. Details such as a person's full name and address are enough to put them in serious risk. The DVLA said: "Stay safe online – don't share photos of your V5C log book on social media or selling sites, as scammers can use them for identity theft." This comes as the the driving authority warned driver last month about criminals' increasingly slick methods to steal personal and financial details — posing as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency through fake websites, texts and emails that look alarmingly legit. Scams range from bogus tax refund promises to 'too good to be true' offers to wipe penalty points from your licence. One of the most reported cons includes emails claiming failed vehicle tax payments — luring drivers to click on links that lead to fake DVLA sites designed to nick your information. A DVLA spokesperson said: "We never ask for bank or credit card details by text message or email, so if you receive something like this, it's a scam. Lawyer busts most common driving myths "Customers should report suspicious emails to the NCSC immediately. Anyone concerned they may have been a victim of fraud should contact the police through Action Fraud straight away." According to Action Fraud, more than 1,100 reports of fake DVLA emails rolled in over just a two-week period, with fraudsters pretending to be the agency and tricking users into handing over sensitive data. Tony Rich from the AA warned: "Some scams can be quite sophisticated and difficult to detect. "For example, if you get a vehicle tax reminder from the DVLA ensure that you respond online to the official government site rather than some of the bogus sites that come up when you search and then apply a commission for doing absolutely nothing. "If in doubt, don't engage or follow the link." What to do if you think you're being scammed The DVLA recommends you do the following: Forward suspicious emails to report@ and The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will investigate it. Forward suspicious text messages to 7726 as this will flag the potential scam to your phone provider. Report scam or misleading adverts to the Advertising Standards Authority. You can report adverts found online, including in search engines, websites or on social media. You can also report scam or misleading adverts to Google or Bing if you found them in search results Contact Action Fraud if you think you've lost money or been hacked because of an online scam or fraud and you're in England or Wales. If you're in Scotland and you've lost money because of an online scam or fraud, report the crime to Police Scotland.
