TRADING Standards is warning Islanders to keep an eye out for three new scams trying to take advantage people by posing as various services.

Residents are asked to remain vigilant and if in doubt forward suspected scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.

Scams to look out for

  • A phone call from BT to say they are laying cable in the area and checking download connections speeds. They will ask you to run a speed test and tell you to press windows +R, which will allow them remote access to your device. BT will never contact you like this and has provided guidance on its website to help you stay safe.
  • An email purporting to be from UK Government advising that your government grant has been approved and asking you to click on a link to claim. If you check the email address of the sender this is clearly not a genuine Gov.uk email address and they will never contact you in this way.
  • An email from TV Licensing which says the licence could not be renewed automatically and asks you to set up a new direct debit or pay now using a debit/credit card. Again the sender email is clearly not a legitimate address and TV Licensing will never contact you in this way.

Isle of Wight Against Scams Partnership (IWASP) has previously warned of scams by phone and email that attempt to trick their victims into thinking they have been hacked or owe money.

These have included an automated message posing as Amazon Prime and an automated call purporting to be from your internet service provider.