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Fake event tickets, pet purchase scams and criminals offering cost-of-living support are among the new scams that led to islanders getting conned out of more than £600,000 last winter.
The scams constituted a record loss for a four-month period, according to the Jersey Fraud Prevention Forum (JFPF).
Police received 36 reports of scams between November 2022 and February 2023, amounting to £606,250. The biggest losses were seen in investments, including cryptocurrency and banking frauds.
'Pet purchase' scams and event tickets were among the new and emerging scam trends. Police have also recently warned islanders about spoof messages from family members complaining of a broken phone or an emergency funding situation.
JFPF's Chair, Chief Inspector Chris Beechey, encouraged islanders to be cautious and continue reporting suspected cases to the Police.
"Whilst criminals use more sophisticated ways in targeting islanders, it has been reassuring to see the suspicious cases being reported," he said.
"Feedback from our forum members suggests that the public are feeling more confident about identifying potential scams and reporting them to the relevant authorities. We hope that our newsletter will better equip islanders to detect and report these crimes."
Investigating Officer Faith Shalamon, a Financial Investigator with the Joint Financial Crimes Unit, and Chief Inspector Chris Beechey, recently appeared on the Bailiwick Podcast to discuss the murky world of scammers, the impact they can have on everyday people, and just how challenging it can be to police this ever-evolving, truly global kind of crime... Listen below or by searching 'Bailiwick Podcasts' with your favourite podcast provider...
Islanders can find more information about how to gain protection from scams and frauds here, and a detailed breakdown of the losses is due to be delivered to all island households next week, in the JFPF's latest newsletter, which is issued twice a year to raise awareness of emerging scams and fraudulent activity.
Anyone who thinks they may have encountered a scam can report it to the Forum or to Police directly on 612612.
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