Frauds and Scams
Tarian Regional Cyber Crime Unit [RCCU] is a team of multi-disciplinary police officers and staff seconded from three of the Welsh forces - South Wales, Gwent, and Dyfed-Powys..
Working with partners such as the National Crime Agency (NCA), National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Welsh Government, its mission is to contribute towards a safer and more cyber secure environment in South Wales.
They issue regular fraud alert bulletins drawing attention to online threats.
Bogus Winter Fuel Payment ads
Scammers are promoting bogus 'Winter Fuel Payments' that don't exist. We've uncovered seven adverts on Facebook and Instagram that claim people of a certain age can receive a 'winter fuel payment' of £500 or £575 per person.
If you're eligible for the legitimate winter fuel payment from the government, you’ll have received a letter in October, or will get one in November, saying how much your payment will be. In the meantime, find out how to spot these scams on social media.
Avoid Black Friday scams
A fake offer isn't anything new, but the hype of the Black Friday and Christmas sales period, and all the advertising that's pumped out at this time of year, allows scammers to disguise their traps.
We reveal the latest Black Friday scams and show you how to tell the genuine bargains from the dodgy deals.
Nuisance callers flogging appliance warranties
Rogue firms continue to bombard the public with misleading calls about appliance and white goods repair cover. We spoke to Sam, from Yorkshire, who believes he was deliberately misled during a phone call from HomeShield, when he inadvertently shared his bank details.
Using a recording of the call, we've transcribed Sam's conversation with HomeShield, so you can understand what to watch out for.
‘Tom Jones’ Facebook scam
Age Cymru officers recently handled a case of an older person who had been targeted by a Facebook scammer posing as singer Tom Jones. The person was contacted over Facebook by someone claiming to be Tom Jones. Notably, the scammer actually warned the victim about other scammers active in Tom Jones fan groups on Facebook – a detail which contributed to building trust with the victim. The scammer then maintained contact with the victim over time, asking them to purchase gift cards and to forward on the card codes. Shockingly, the scam then progressed to a romance scam, resulting in the fraudster proposing marriage to the victim. It was at this point that the victim’s daughter discovered what had happened and intervened. The victim received immediate support from the police and from Age Cymru and is now in safe hands. We urge partners to keep an eye out for scams taking place over social media, and to be wary of scams that develop over time as the criminal builds trust with the victim. If you or someone you know has been the victim of fraud, you should contact Action Fraud online or at 0300 123 20 40