Take Five to Stop Fraud

📣 Businesses beware: criminals may use the end of the tax year in their scams. They might impersonate senior executives or your CEO to demand urgent payments or confidential information. Take a moment to stop and think before making a payment or providing information. - Verify any unexpected or unusual requests by speaking directly with the person who has contacted you - Check-in colleagues if you're unsure about the legitimacy of an email - Double check the sender’s email address - Be cautious with changes to payment instructions or account details #TakeFive #StopChallengeProtect.

Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift? #TakeFive before you buy! Criminals will create fake adverts and websites to trick you into buying products that don’t exist. To stay safe, remember to: - Do your research and read reviews online. - Always use trusted websites and secure payment methods and avoid paying by bank transfer. - Avoid clicking on links from social media or email. Go to the trusted retail site directly. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is! If someone is rushing you into making a purchase, remember you can say no. #Mother’sDay #TakeFive #StopChallengeProtect #PurchaseFraud

The ISA deadline is coming up so it’s an important time to keep your guard up against investment scams. Take a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information. It could help keep you safe 🔒 - Avoid clicking on social media ads offering investments 🔗 - If you’re contacted unexpectedly by phone, email or on social media, do your research first and always consider the possibility of a scam 🔍 - If you’re offered a high return on your investment with apparently little or no risk and is also exclusive to you, this is a huge red flag 🚩 Share this with your family and friends to help everyone keep safe from investment fraud in the lead up to the ISA deadline on 5 April 2025. #TakeFive #StopChallengeProtect #InvestmentScam

Take a moment before paying that invoice. 📜 Criminals will send fake invoices that look like ones from a genuine supplier hoping you will pay without checking the account details.  Always question changes in in payment information and confirm service provider bank details directly with the company before payment is made. #InvoiceFraud #StopChallengeProtect

Are those new bank details genuine? 🤔 It’s nearly the tax year-end and criminals might use this to rush you into paying a fake invoice. Invoice fraud is when a criminal poses as a trusted organisation or supplier and provides you with a genuine looking invoice with new or amended bank account details. Don’t rush to make a payment. Always speak to the supplier directly on a number you trust before making any payments. #InvoiceFraud #TakeFive

Found a last minute holiday bargain? ⛱️ Be sure to do your research and read online reviews from reputable sources to check offers are genuine. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is! Find out more: https://buff.ly/tXGU3q9 #TakeFive #HolidayFraud #StopChallengeProtect

Holiday fraud is when a criminal impersonates trusted websites or creates fake adverts to trick you into booking a holiday and giving them your money or personal information. Criminals may even research your social media and call you out of the blue to say one of your friends recommended you to seem legitimate. Protect yourself from holiday fraud: 🔍 Always research the company you’re booking through and read reviews. 🔗 Avoid clicking on links from social media, emails or messages. 👫 If someone calls you out of the blue saying a friend recommended you, hang up. 💳 Always use a secure payment platform from trusted retailers – avoid paying with bank transfer. Find out more at https://buff.ly/CKgwykj #TakeFive #HolidayFraud

Handling too many payments before they become overdue? 💸    Beware of criminals pretending to be a service provider you trust. If one of your suppliers shares new account details from the ones you hold, always verify this with a trusted contact.    👩💻 Visit the Take Five website for more information about how to stay safe from fraud.

That didn’t sound like Chris... 🧑💼    Criminals may pose as one of an organisation’s senior leaders and target employees who are responsible for authorising payments.     What red flags should you watch out for?  ⚠️ You’re urged to process an out-of-the-ordinary payment urgently by your CEO, a boss or a senior manager  ⚠️ The email does not match the tone of the genuine sender  ⚠️ You’re asked to change the bank details of an existing supplier     💼 Save this as a reminder to always follow internal procedures when handling your company’s finances 

Did you check their payment details? 💳    Criminals can create fake invoices which look like ones issued by one of your trusted suppliers but with different bank details.     Always double check account details before processing a payment to ensure they match the ones you have on record.     Share this advice with a colleague to remind them to stay safe ✅