Mid Wales a hotspot for computer fraud

Analysis from consumer group Which? found people in the Dyfed-Powys area of Mid Wales were most likely to report losing money to computer repair fraud - with cold callers offering to fix a non-existent computer glitch, with 19.3 reports per 10,000 people, compared with the general average of 10.4.

This type of fraud was more commonly reported in areas with an older population, Which? said.

Dyfed-Powys was also a hotspot for reported fake services fraud, the organisation found, involving people who had been conned into paying an upfront fee for services that did not exist, such as falsely offering to make a PPI claim.

There were 13.4 reports per 10,000 people, compared with the national average of 9.5.

Dyfed-Powys Police has issued regular warnings about computer repair fraud over the past few years.

DI Anthony Evans, of Dyfed Powys Police’s Financial Crime Team, said: “The fraudsters have been targeting over 60s and it is likely the scam will spread across the UK.

“We have a large older population in Dyfed Powys making it important that they, their families and carers are aware of the dangers of such scams and provide them with the advice and support they need to avoid being scammed.

“Other scams to be aware of often come from people purporting to be police officers, bank workers or phone and internet providers.”

Meanwhile, Norfolk is a hotspot for reported dating fraud, while in Surrey investment scams are a particular concern.

The consumer group made the findings following a Freedom of Information Act request for thousands of reports made to Action Fraud over a three-year period during 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Gareth Shaw, a money expert at Which?, said: "As more information is available about us online than ever before, fraudsters are finding it much easier to know who to target and how.

"These criminals are constantly finding new ways to rip us off and those tackling fraud should be upping their game. The Government needs to set out an ambitious agenda to tackle fraud, while law enforcement agencies need to be working harder to identify and protect the people most at risk from fraud."

People who have been the victim of a bank transfer scam can use a Which? tool to share their experience at www.which.co.uk/bank-transfers.

Which? has been calling for banks to give stronger protections to customers who are tricked into transferring money from their bank account to fraudsters.