Scams and fraud: the slides.

Say clearly that being scammed is a crime done to someone, not a failing. It changes how people listen.

Write these four steps on the board and leave them up for the rest of the session. Every example that follows fits them.

Impersonation scams often start with a message about a payment you didn’t make, to make you call them. The fix is always the same: hang up and call the number on your card.

Fraud teams see this with rent, house deposits, building work and payroll. The message is often genuine-looking because the email account really was taken over.

These two often overlap: a new online friend introduces an investment. The relationship can feel completely real, which is why these scams can run for months.

People who have been scammed are often targeted again. Money mule offers are aimed especially at young people and people looking for work.

First steps: contact the bank or lender involved, change passwords starting with email, and check the country block for reporting and for freezing or flagging a credit file.

Tell the bank it was a scam and ask them to stop or reverse the payment. For passwords, start with email and the bank, and turn on two-step sign-in where you can. Don’t delete anything.

Now show the country block: where to report, and how to check that a bank or regulator is really contacting you. Ask people to write their bank’s number from their card on the worksheet now.