Young Wrexham

Fraud

Fraud is linked to deception and forgery and includes faking something such as a signature, passport or credit card and using it as if it were genuine. This can include providing false information or using a fake ID.

• Counterfeiting is the term used specifically for copying/forging bank notes
• Piracy is also fraud, so downloading pirate films, music, computer programs, and computer games is against the law and punishable with serious consequences if caught
• Any item that has a copyright cannot be copied unless permission is given by the publisher and in some cases a fee is paid

Being a victim of fraud and deception can be distressing and there are ways of protecting yourself:

• Always keep important documents with you or make sure you know that they are in a safe place
• Don’t share your personal information with anyone unless you are sure you know who they are
• Never tell anyone your PIN numbers, even if they say they are from your bank or the police
• Check your card and bank statements against receipts to make sure there aren’t transactions you didn’t make yourself
• Only use secure, well-known internet sites when shopping online
• Do not buy from websites that do not display a phone number and full postal address and check them out before buying to be absolutely sure see Shopping Online
• Install anti-virus software on your computer from a trusted source – many identity thefts these days can be carried out by malware being installed without your knowledge in fake software updates
• Shred all documents that contain personal and financial information, do not throw them in the waste bin not shredded. If your mobile phone has a PIN number or security code, make sure you use it
• Security mark you mobile phone