This week’s community update covers local fraud concerns, social media job scams targeting young people and advice for protecting your pensions from criminals. We’ll also highlight the work of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Task Force during National Rural Crime Week.
Local Priorities: Fraud Awareness
Residents in North Yorkshire have highlighted fraud – including bogus callers, courier fraud and cybercrime – as a key local concern. In 2022, UK residents lost £1.2bn to fraud, with around three million scams reported. Common scams include payment card fraud, doorstep crime and cybercrime targeting personal information.
Fraud involves trickery to gain a dishonest advantage, often financial, while cybercrime includes criminal activity involving computers and networks.
To report an incident or find further information, visit the Action Fraud website.
Warning to Parents and Young People: Social Media “Job” Scam
Police are warning families about scams offering high payments for liking or sharing posts on platforms like TikTok and Telegram. Around 40 cases have been reported in the past six months, with victims as young as 15.
Scammers often ask victims to send money or share personal details, sometimes involving money mule activity.
Detective Inspector Janine Mitchell of the Economic Crime Unit said: “Not only do the victims of these scams lose money, but in some cases, they also have to deal with the closure of their bank account which can compound the distress of finding out they’ve been scammed. If you come across an offer like this, please ignore it, don’t click on any links they provide and don’t send them any money.”
If you believe you have been targeted, report it to Action Fraud online or call 0300 123 2040.
Protect Your Pension from Fraud
Savers and those approaching retirement are reminded to safeguard their pensions. In 2024, pension fraud led to losses of over £17.5 million in the UK, with an average loss of £33,848 per victim.
Tips to protect yourself:
• Secure online accounts: Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-step verification.
• Ignore unsolicited calls: Cold calls about pensions are illegal and often fraudulent.
• Be cautious with investments: Avoid pressure tactics or offers that sound too good to be true.
• Victims should report scams to Action Fraud and contact their bank or pension provider immediately to prevent further losses.
Highlighting Rural Crime: National Rural Crime Week
The Rural Task Force is engaging with communities across North Yorkshire during National Rural Crime Week. Rural crime, such as theft of farming equipment, poaching and intimidation, remains a significant concern.
Inspector Mark Earnshaw said: “Like others on the team, I’m from a farming background myself, therefore we understand the misery that criminal gangs cause to hardworking farmers, gamekeepers and landowners, often leaving them feeling intimidated by their action… Week in week out, we will continue to do all we can to make people who live and work in rural areas feel safe and bring the people who think it’s acceptable to target them to justice.”
The Task Force works across North Yorkshire to provide proactive patrols, build relationships with the community, and target serious and organised rural crime.
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