New scam targeting online shoppers

Officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) want to educate communities and empower victims after a new scam targeting online shoppers.

Work at the NEROCU continues to pursue fraudsters and bring them to justice, but officers are also determined to make sure the public feel confident and capable of recognising scams and reporting them before becoming a victim.

Officers are warning of a new scam surfacing on apps and sites like Vinted after nine North East victims have come forward – with a total loss of £2,600 so far.

The scam involves victims trying to retrieve funds after a failed transaction. They are then contacted by a fake ‘Vinted’ chatbot and advised to open a new Revolut account to resolve the issue. They are told to add money to activate the account so the previous amount can then be retrieved. Once the victim does so, the scammers then remove all the funds from the Revolut account.

Our advice is to stop and take time to assess any situation that involves transferring money or giving personal information to anyone. No genuine site or agency will pressure you to make a decision or transfer money.

If you have concerns or doubts, close the site or app and open it again from a trusted source to ensure you’re speaking to a legitimate person.

While NEROCU officers also work with banks and community groups to educate staff and the public around spotting the signs and how to report it, we also need victims to report as soon as they can so police and partners can work together to dismantle frauds.

For further help and advice, and to report fraud, please visit the Action Fraud website.