FACEBOOK users are being warned to be on their guard against a scam operating in the region looking to con people in Worcestershire.
People are supposedly contacted by a friend of theirs, asking them to deposit money into a fake account.
In reality, fraudsters are behind the ploy after hacking into a victim’s account and then messaging the victim’s ‘Facebook friends’ to ask for the cash.
Some local businesses have also been targeted and some of the attempts have been successful, leaving the victims out-of-pocket, violated and having been taken advantage of.
Det Sgt Jon Cooper said: “I would please urge everyone to be vigilant of this Facebook based scam and to never digitally deposit money to anyone’s account without confirming in person if possible it is in fact someone they know.
“Some online scams are very clever and very convincing however there are steps you can take to help protect yourself.”
Online security experts suggest the following –
* Strong passwords are nonsensical and made up of a mixture of letters, numbers and punctuation.
* Make sure you update your software and your antivirus before using the internet.
* Always check when banking online that the ‘https’ shows the connection is secure.
*Remember to shred documents containing personal details before throwing away.
*Think scams. If an online bargain seems too good to be true it probably is.
Anyone wanting more information on the #BeCyberSmart campaign can visit westmercia.police.uk/becybersmart or go to getsafeonline.org for more advice on staying safe on the Internet.
Anyone who thinks they may have fallen victim to this scam or has encountered it should call police on 101 or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
The information can also be conveyed securely online by visiting actionfraud.police.uk
