AN URGENT warning has been issued over sick tricksters using fake books of condolence for the Queen to con mourning Brits.
Criminals are trying to lure unsuspecting royal fans grieving Her Majesty’s death into handing over their personal and financial information.
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The Co-Operative Bank issued an email to customers urging caution as online swindlers try to take advantage of people.
In the message, signed by bank’s chief executive Nick Slape, customers were told to be vigilant.
It said: “Like many, we are incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.
“As the longest-serving Monarch in British history, Her Majesty’s dedication to public service will be admired and remembered by all.
“On behalf of all at The Co-operative Bank, we offer our sincerest condolences to the Royal Family for their loss.
“The official state of mourning across the UK will remain in place until the Queen’s funeral on 19 September. As a mark of respect, our branches and contact centre will be closed on this day.
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“Even at this sad time, some criminals could carry out attempts of fraud by using bogus messages in relation to London travel and accommodation, charitable donations or to encourage you to sign an online book of condolence.
“Their aim is to steal your personal and financial information.
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“Please be vigilant and if you think you have been targeted by a scam please report it to us.”
Essex Police issued a reminder about where you can sign books of condolence.
How to stay safe from scammers
Check your bank accounts regularly so you can spot any unusual activity
Check your credit report monthly to make sure no one has taken out products in your name
Set up phone alerts from your bank that tell you when money is spent
Make sure you don’t use your banking password or pin for anything else
Avoid cash machines that look like they’ve been tampered with
Don’t let your card out of your sight including in restaurants and bars
Check email address and websites carefully
Don’t use public Wi-Fi for transactions
Always log out of your bank account
Invest in a shredder to get rid of post and old bank statements
If you lose your card, cancel it immediately. Don’t wait to see if it turns up
Never give out banking details over the phone
Be wary of what you post on social media, sometimes scammers call trawl your profile for information
If a company is pressuring you to make an investment or saying that an opportunity is time limited, it’s usually a scam. Legitimate companies will never pressure you to make a decision
They said although there won’t be any books of condolence at Royal Residences, there is an official option on the Royal Family website.
A spokesperson said: “There will be opportunities to sign books of condolence at various Town Halls and other locations throughout the UK. Please check with your local authority.”
Sun readers can leave their own personal tribute in our online condolence book.
Fraudsters in the UK stole a whopping £753.9million in the first half of 2021 alone.
That means criminals walked away with over four million quid in stolen money every single day.
Criminals rely on people thinking “it won’t happen to me” and not knowing about the new methods they have to con people.
