• Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
    • Business Mag
  • Sport
    • Football
    • NAFC
    • Cricket
    • Durham Wildcats
    • American Football
    • Baseball
    • Rugby
    • Youth Football
  • Features
    • Blog
    • Picture Galleries
  • Community
    • A.T People
    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Aycliffe Today
Aycliffe Today
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
      Husqvarna UK a cut above the rest with Company of the Year award

      Husqvarna UK a cut above the rest with Company of the Year award

      300 guests celebrate Aycliffe Make Your Mark Awards

      300 guests celebrate Aycliffe Make Your Mark Awards

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Three weeks to go as host confirmed for 2025 Make Your Mark Awards

      Three weeks to go as host confirmed for 2025 Make Your Mark Awards

    • Business Mag
      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 70

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 70

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 69

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 69

  • Sport
    • Football
      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

    • NAFC
      Aycliffe narrowly miss out on play-off place – but achieve record league finish

      Aycliffe narrowly miss out on play-off place – but achieve record league finish

      Aycliffe’s play-off push on track – last home game Easter Monday!

      Aycliffe’s play-off push on track – last home game Easter Monday!

      Aycliffe boost play-off hopes with win in Leeds

      Aycliffe boost play-off hopes with win in Leeds

      Aycliffe’s play-off hopes boosted by back-to-back wins

      Aycliffe’s play-off hopes boosted by back-to-back wins

    • Cricket
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

    • Durham Wildcats
      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

    • American Football
      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

    • Baseball
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

    • Rugby
      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

    • Youth Football
      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

  • Features
    • Blog
      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

    • Picture Galleries
      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

  • Community
    • A.T People
      Spring 2015

      Spring 2015

      December 2014

      December 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
Be aware of fraudulent scams
Home
News

Be aware of fraudulent scams

November 17th, 2021 Martin Walker News 0 comments 919

top banner

Residents in County Durham are being reminded to stay on their guard against fraudulent activity as part of a week of action.

As part of International Fraud Awareness Week, which takes place from November 14 to 20, Durham County Council is calling on members of the public to be vigilant and help in its fight against fraud.

From sending fake emails designed to look like an offer of a council tax reduction, council tax refund or Universal Credit; to imitating NHS Track and Trace or TV Licensing and subscription services, scammers have been using the coronavirus pandemic to acquire personal details.

Other scams residents are being warned to look out for include fake courier texts which charge for rebooking delivery, emails about Amazon delivery problems which try and collect Amazon account details, and calls from people pretending to be from TalkTalk who ask people to carry out tasks on their computer which will give them remote access to a device.

The council’s corporate fraud team investigates frauds including adult social care, blue badge, business rates, council tax, insurance, procurement, schools and tenancy frauds. Since it was set up in June 2015 it has recovered or intercepted over £12.4m.

Between April and September this year, the team recovered or intercepted over £895,000 related to fraudulent activity and currently has 250 ongoing fraud investigations.

Since the pandemic, officers have also investigated 113 Covid-19 Grant Fraud cases, preventing fraud to the value of £902,000 and identified fraud activity which had taken place to the value of £265,000.

The team continues to work alongside Durham Constabulary and had a successful prosecution earlier this year as a result of which a custodial sentence was imposed, as well as working in partnership with the National Anti-Fraud Network and reporting numerous national organised frauds to the National Investigation Service.

Warning signs for a potential scam include:

• A website address is inconsistent with that of the legitimate organisation
• A phone call, text or email asks for financial information such as PINs or passwords
• A call or email appears out of the blue with an urgent request for personal or financial information, or to make an immediate payment
• An offer of a heavily discounted or considerably cheaper product compared to the original price
• There are spelling and grammar mistakes or inconsistencies in the story given.

Cllr Richard Bell, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, said: “During the past 18 months scammers have been using the coronavirus pandemic and the public anxiety that this has understandably brought to take advantage and commit these deceptive crimes.

“Our corporate fraud team is working tirelessly to identify and prevent attempted frauds in County Durham.

“I urge all residents to remain vigilant against fraud and if they have concerns that any correspondence such as a phone call, email or letter does not appear to be genuine to follow the relevant advice and report it to us and in doing so join the fight against fraud.”

For more information or to report a case of fraud, visit durham.gov.uk/fraud.

And to find out more on ways to spot a scam go to friendsagainstscams.org.uk.

top banner

Share it!

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Next article Aycliffe Running Club round-up
Previous article Husqvarna revealed as headline sponsors for Aycliffe’s Make Your Mark awards

Related News

Farage tells council diversity and climate staff to 'find alternative careers' after County Durham majority News
May 2nd, 2025

Farage tells council diversity and climate staff to 'find alternative careers' after County Durham majority

Four new councillors as Reform UK sweeps into Aycliffe power News
May 2nd, 2025

Four new councillors as Reform UK sweeps into Aycliffe power

Cash committed to fund anti-stalking video doorbells News
April 28th, 2025

Cash committed to fund anti-stalking video doorbells

LATEST VIDEO

This week on A.T

May 12th 11:50 AM
Business

Husqvarna UK a cut above the rest with Company of the Year award

May 12th 8:42 AM
Business

300 guests celebrate Aycliffe Make Your Mark Awards

May 2nd 9:28 PM
News

Farage tells council diversity and climate staff to ‘find alternative careers’ after County Durham majority

May 2nd 6:44 PM
News

Four new councillors as Reform UK sweeps into Aycliffe power

Apr 30th 3:54 PM
Business

Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

Apr 29th 4:57 PM
Sport

Aycliffe narrowly miss out on play-off place – but achieve record league finish

Apr 28th 2:32 PM
Sport

Aycliffe Cricket round-up

Apr 28th 10:47 AM
News

Cash committed to fund anti-stalking video doorbells

Apr 17th 11:55 AM
Sport

Aycliffe’s play-off push on track – last home game Easter Monday!

Apr 16th 8:38 AM
Business

Three weeks to go as host confirmed for 2025 Make Your Mark Awards

Recommend
Follow @AycliffeToday
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Community
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Back to top
© Aycliffe Today 2019. All rights reserved.
Developed by Thrive

Get our latest news direct to your inbox every Friday - subscribe to our free e-newsletter today.

Subscribe Now