Staying alert to coronavirus fraud activity
We’re sad to say that at times like this it’s more important than ever to stay alert to protect yourself and your family from fraudsters. Amid the global uncertainty, scammers have been looking to profiteer, impersonating the credible institutions that we have all turned to for help and advice during this challenging time.
We want to support our customers as much as possible during this time and have shared tips and useful resources below to help you stay fraud savvy. You can also find more information about general coronavirus queries on our support page.
Recognise the trends
A key trend used by fraudsters is to impersonate institutions the public associate with the coronavirus, such as the UK Government, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Fraudsters will attempt to use the credibility of these well-known organisations to trick victims into disclosing their personal data through malicious email attachments. They could then go to sell this data on the dark web, or use it to steal goods and loans.
This can apply to the motor finance industry too and fraudsters may impersonate lenders and banks in order to obtain your personal data and financial details.
ActionFraud has made the following recommendations to protect yourself & your family:
Watch out for scam messages, emails and phone calls
Don’t click on the links or attachments in suspicious emails & text messages, and never respond to unsolicited messages and calls that ask for your personal or financial details. If someone asks for your details over the phone, ensure you can verify that they are who they say they are before you disclose even the smallest detail.
Stay savvy when shopping online
If you’re making a purchase from a company or person you don’t know and trust, carry out some research first and ask a friend or family member for advice before completing the purchase. If you decide to go ahead with the purchase, use a credit card if you have one as most major credit card providers insure online purchases. For more information on how to shop online safely, please click here.
Protect your devices from the latest threats
Always install the latest software and app updates to protect your devices from the latest threats. For information on how to update your devices, please visit the National cyber Security Centre website.
Always remember to Take 5
Take 5 is an online resource with more information on fraud. They have tips on how to stay safe, to help you ‘Stop, Challenge, Protect’ when it comes to fraud. Visit their website for more information and carefully consider any unexpected communication you receive to prevent becoming a victim of fraud.
“MotoNovo Finance remains committed to the prevention of Financial Crime and we are here to help you through this period of uncertainty. We would urge any of our customers to report anything they feel is suspicious or suspect in relation to MotoNovo Finance to: [email protected]”
Gareth Holcombe, Head of Financial Crime at MotoNovo Finance
