Cleveland Police warning people about cyber crime and fraud
It's Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Cleveland Police are warning people that scammers are using AI more to help when it comes to cyber crime and fraud.
The force says it's still massively underreported and are urging anyone who's a victim to not be scared to get in touch.
Kelly Close, a cyber protect and prevent officer at Cleveland Police, said: "People, for various reasons, don't report what has happened to them. They don't think the police would investigate. They don't think we would be interested. A lot of the time, they don't realise that it is a crime, especially with the cyber side to it. And with the fraud side to it, there's a lot of embarrassment. They think that people won't be sympathetic. So if this has happened to you, if you are a victim, please do talk to us.
"They can knock on your door. So we see people calling, saying there's something wrong with your house, or that they've been sent from an agency, from a local government maybe, to help you with home improvements, or from a charity. They can call you by telephone, trying to get you to give away information, data about yourself, financial information, or to pay something online.
"Just last month, we had a spate of people getting letters saying that they'd won the lottery. We've heard of people getting letters with new bank cards. When your bank card is due to expire, you will get a letter from your bank with a new bank card, and you have to scan the QR code to activate it. When you do, you will get a message from your bank; you input that into a text message and then that's your card activated. It is all a scam.
"We are into the era of AI now, and criminals don't need to be sophisticated. The technology's there to do it for them. They just have to have the idea and the will to do it, and then they can get AI to do it. It takes eight seconds to get a good clone of a voice now. So if anybody uses 'my voice is my password' for security, please do come away from that.
"We've had just over 100 calls where criminals have used technology to change their telephone number. So it came up with the old Cleveland Police telephone number, 01642 326326, so it will come up as Cleveland Police on your phone and if you search that number on Google, and they were claiming to be from the cyber crime team, which is where I work. And I promise you, it was not me.
"I'm very overt and out there in the community, so somebody pretending to be me is quite sickening, because that is my life: telling people don't trust, don't believe, question, suspect everybody. And then they're pretending to be me. It is quite sickening, especially if there are people out there who have had a phone call and don't know that messaging of 'suspect everybody.'
"The phrase is "Stop! Think Fraud." So just stop, take a second. Whether somebody's knocking on your door and showing you an ID, how do you know that that's real? If it's somebody on the phone, how do you know it really is the police? So whether that be closing the door and making a phone call to say, 'is this person really from the water board?', or putting the phone down, ringing 101 and saying, 'is this really somebody from the cyber crime team?'
"If you get a letter through the post, how do you know that it really is true? Online, before you click on a link, don't click on the link; go to the website. If you get an e-mail saying your account's going to be shut down, don't click on the link; go to the website and find out that way. Just take those steps to put a safety gap between you and whatever the communication is."
Cleveland Police also say they're supporting national colleagues at Report Fraud’s social media and email account hacking awareness campaign which forms part of October’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Tackling online fraud is a priority for Cleveland Police who say a great deal of work takes place locally by their Economic Crime and Fraud Units, supported by the force’s 11 newly appointed specially trained fraud ambassadors who are based in all four of local policing areas, as well as under Operation Sentinel – the initiative to tackle serious and organised crime (including fraud) with colleagues from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) and Northumbria and Durham forces.
Report Fraud
Report Fraud is warning email and social media users that hacking sums stolen by fraudsters have risen by more than 400% so we’re urging our local residents to take practical steps to protect their online accounts.
Hacking from email and social media remains the most reported form of cybercrime in the UK but scammers also target people through gaming and streaming accounts and even through their travel and online delivery accounts.
Cleveland Police's Economic Crime Unit Detective Sergeant Kev Appleby said: “Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be reinforcing national messages about how to protect online accounts by making use of passkeys, which can help keep personal information safe from criminals attempting to gain unauthorised access to email, social media or other online account so they can commit further fraudulent activity.
“One of the most common themes identified nationally is compromised accounts being used to impersonate family members and friends and there’s some useful advice on the Report Fraud website.
“Finally, I would urge people to look out for themselves and for more vulnerable family members and friends; we all have a part to play in tackling fraud.”
Protect yourself from being hacked:
- Use passkeys wherever they are available. They are more secure and easier to use.
Where passkeys are unavailable, use strong passwords, for example generated by a password manager.
- You should also enable 2 Step-Verification if you can.
- Who has access to the content you’re posting? Make sure your privacy settings are configured so that it’s only visible to the people you want to see it, for example only your friends.
- Beware of sharing personal details online: try not to share too many personal details that a fraudster could use to build a picture of you. They can use facts, such as your birthday, where you live, family relationships or pet names to steal your identity or make their fraud more convincing.
- If you are contacted by someone you know via social media or email: don’t automatically trust that person is who you think they are. Contact them through another route, such as in person, by sending an SMS or phoning them.
For anyone who has already been hacked:
If you have been hacked, tell Report Fraud by making a report at the Report Fraud website or by calling 0300 123 2040.
The UK’s National Cyber Security centre has published guidance explaining what you can do to minimise the damage, and how you can regain access to your accounts. You can find this here.
Cleveland Police’s website also has information on cybercrime and how to protect yourself.