Learn about Fraud

Northridge App/Self Serve Portal

What is it:

Using your device to manage your agreement.

What to look out for:

• People watching you enter your password
• Strange agreement changes
• Communications of requests you didn’t do
• Weak or shared passwords that can be cracked easily
• Signs your device may not be secure (apps crashing, slow device, files/apps you didn’t install)

How to stay safe:

• Use strong passwords (long, complex, with symbols)
• Make each password different without personal information
• Never share your password
• Don’t let browsers save passwords
• Consider using trusted device facilities to enhance your security
• Shield your screen in public
• Log out properly
• Use secure networks

Protecting your device

Your device is the key to your agreement. Keep it safe to prevent fraud and identity theft by:

• Installing antivirus software
• Keeping your system updated
• Downloading apps only from official stores
• Wiping your device before selling or getting rid of it

Asset Conversion

What is it:

Selling or giving away a vehicle that’s still under a secured agreement such as Hire Purchase — without permission from the finance company.

Why it matters:

• You don’t own the vehicle until the finance is fully paid.
• Selling it without permission breaks your agreement. This could lead to serious consequences, including repossession or legal action as well as your details being recorded on UK Fraud registers.

How to stay safe:

• Always check your finance agreement.
• Contact the finance company before selling or transferring the vehicle.

Fronting

What is it:

Applying for finance in your name but giving the vehicle to someone else.

Why it matters:

• You’ll be legally responsible for the agreement, payments, and any issues
• It can lead to financial loss, damage to your credit score, breach of the terms & conditions and even fraud investigations

How to stay safe:

• Don’t apply for finance for someone else.
• Don’t let them insure, register, or use the vehicle.
• If you’ve applied but changed your mind, tell the finance company.
• Don’t collect the vehicle if it’s not for you.

Ghost Insurance Policy

What is it:

A fake insurance policy sold by a scammer (called a ghost broker). It may look real but gives you no legal cover.

What to look out for:

If it’s a good deal, then it most likely is “too good to be true”.

How to stay safe:

• Only buy insurance from trusted companies.
• Don’t use social media ads to find insurance.
• Check the broker is registered and genuine on the FCA website

Suspicious Emails (Phishing)

What is it:

Fake emails that look real. They try to trick you into giving away personal or banking details.

What to look out for:

• Spelling mistakes
• Unfamiliar senders
• Urgent threats
• Requests to click links or open files

How to stay safe:

• Don’t click links unless you trust source
• Hover over links to check the web address
• Never share banking or personal details if requested by email

Common scams

Fraudsters sometimes send emails pretending to be from your bank, credit card company or another company you trust. They might ask you to click on a link or open an attachment. The emails seem genuine and convincing but are designed to trick you into sharing your personal information, like your username, full PIN, or credit card number. They will often make urgent threats and try to scare you into providing your details.

Suspicious Texts (Smishing)

What is it:

Smishing is when a criminal tries to trick you into sharing personal and financial details through text messages. Criminals may claim to be from a reputable organisation, or from friends and family. Remember: A bank or the police will NEVER ask you to transfer money to a ‘safe account’ so ignore such text messages.

What to look out for:

• Fraudulent texts in genuine message threads
• Messages asking for urgent payments
• Links to login pages of websites that might be fake
• Requests for card details

How to stay safe:

• Don’t click links in texts
• Search for the company instead
• Forward scam texts to 7726
• Block and delete the number

Common scams

Criminals can send text messages that appear within a genuine thread of text messages. Even if a text message appears within a genuine thread with a reputable organisation don’t assume it’s genuine.

WhatsApp “Mum and Dad” Scam:
Scammers pretend to be family members needing urgent help.

Parcel Delivery Scam:
Scammers pose as delivery services. They send texts saying a parcel
couldn’t be delivered and ask for payment or personal info.

Suspicious Calls (Vishing)

What is it:

Suspicious calls, or vishing, is when a scammer calls you, claiming to be from your bank, credit card company or another company you trust. They may say that someone has been able to use your account, or made a payment, and ask for your bank card or bank account details.

What to look out for:

• Urgent tone or pressure
• Requests for personal, banking or card details

How to stay safe:

• Hang up and call the company using details from their website
• Wait 5 minutes before calling back or use a different phone
• Never let someone take remote access of your device

Common scams

Criminals can manipulate the phone number that appears on your caller ID so it appears they are calling from a legitimate company. Be suspicious of any call you receive, in which the caller asks for your personal and/or financial information.

Criminals often add an urgency to the call, for example they may say that your bank account or bank card has been compromised and requires urgent attention.
 
Criminals make phone calls, claiming to be from a reputable IT organisation, to offer assistance. Never allow a cold caller to take remote access of your computer.

Bank spoofing Scam:
Scammers pretend to be your bank or tech support. Criminals ask you to transfer money to a “safe account” that they control. This will always be fraud.

QR Code Scams (Quishing)

What is it:

A QR code is a type of barcode that you can scan with your smartphone camera to go to a website. Fraudsters use fake QR codes to trick you into visiting a fake website. Quishing is when a scammer creates a fake QR code that sends you to a website that looks real but isn’t. This fake site may ask you for your personal or financial details or infect your phone with malware. The scammer could then use this information to steal your money or identity.

What to look out for:

• QR codes in odd places
• Websites with spelling mistakes
• Sites asking for personal information
• No HTTPS or padlock icon in the web address

How to stay safe:

• Check for tampering
• Only scan QR codes from trusted sources
• Search for the company instead
• Check the link before clicking
• Don’t download unknown apps
• Trust your instincts

Common scams

• Fake QR codes for advertising or returning goods
• Fake QR code stickers placed over genuine ones in public places like car parks or restaurants
• Unexpected emails or texts

Public Wi-Fi

What is it:

Wireless networks have changed the way we use computers and mobile devices at home in the office and on the move. ‘Public’ wireless networks or hotspots mean that we can get online in places like cafés, hotels and parks. While this is very convenient, there is a security risk associated with it. When you access public Wi-Fi, you can never be sure who has set up the network and, more importantly, you don’t know who is connected to it. Malicious users could intercept anything you are doing online including capturing your passwords and reading private emails.

What to look out for:

• Unknown networks
• Pop-ups asking for updates
• Suspicious activity

How to stay safe:

• Use 4G or 5G for personal info
• Don’t install updates on public Wi-Fi
• Report anything suspicious

Identity Theft (Impersonation)

What is it:

Identity theft happens when a fraudster steals your personal & financial information and uses it to impersonate you. Then they can do several things: access your bank accounts, open a new current or credit account in your name, change payment details for a supplier, take on new loan/s.

What to look out for:

• Strange activity on accounts
• Bills for things you didn’t buy
• Credit checks you didn’t request

How to stay safe:

• Be careful what you post online
• Lock away valuable documents
• Shred confidential information like bank statements
• Set up mail forwarding if you change address

Remote Access Fraud

What is it:

Fraudsters convince people into downloading legitimate screen sharing software to give them access and control of your device. Once they have control of your device, they can steal your personal and financial information for their gain.

What to look out for:

• Requests to take control of your device
• Requests to download screen sharing software
• Requests for banking passwords or one-time passcodes. DO NOT SHARE THEM.

How to stay safe:

• Never download remote access software
• Don’t log in while someone is connected
• Talk to someone you trust before making decisions

Common scams

Investment Scams:
You may be contacted about a fake investment opportunity. You can check these companies on the FCA Register. The FCA Register is a list of companies that are properly authorised to give financial advice.

Tech Support Scams:
Scammers pretend to be from IT companies and ask to fix your device remotely.