(CGN) Capital Growth Network

BUYING ONLINE The internet is a great way to buy and sell new or second hand goods. But you should look out for fake adverts on social media or trading websites. WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR Bad reviews - Lots of good reviews from different buyers are better than mixed, bad or no reviews at all. Amazing deals - If prices on a site are a lot lower than other sellers, it could be a scam. Requests for advance payments - If an item is large and expensive, like a car, fraudsters may invite you to view then ask you to pay before you can pick it up. Once they have your money they'll disappear. Don’t pay until they hand the item over to you. Odd ways of paying - A fake site may ask you to pay by direct bank or wire transfer. These are hard to trace. If things go wrong, you may not get your money back. WHAT YOU CAN DO Take your time - Make sure an offer is genuine before you choose to buy. Ask the seller questions - If a seller can't tell you any details about the goods or tries to ...

Wangiri call scams are calls from international numbers you don’t recognise and it’s a scam that could leave you seriously out of pocket. WHAT IS A WANGIRI SCAM? The word ‘Wangiri’ is Japanese and means  ‘one ring and drop’. It’s basically what’s known in the UK, as a ‘drop call’. Calls usually cut off just as the phone rings, leaving a missed call notification from an unfamiliar number with the intention of playing on your curiosity. If you do happen to take the bait, you’ll be routed to an expensive, premium rate service. Phone companies have taken the initiative to invest in intelligence systems to proactively screen incoming calls for fraudulent numbers and are automatically blocking numbers known to be used for fraud. HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF? If you get an unexpected call from an unknown, international or unusual number, here are some simple steps that you can take to protect yourself from Wangiri fraud: 1.     Don’t answer any unexpected ...