October 30, 2008 Archives

Identity theft is one of the biggest problems facing internet users with online banking fraud losses alone totalling £21.4m during the first six months of this year.

One particular swindle involves fraudsters phishing for your details.

Phishing is when criminals attempt to gain our banking details by impersonating our bank and requesting sensitive information.

It usually entails an email asking the customer to verify their information. These emails often link to a website which will look exactly your bank's official website.

You'll be encouraged to enter your details and password into the site which will then be sent to the criminal, who will then have access to your online bank account.

These phishing emails are getting increasingly sophisticated. Some have even begun to impersonate government departments such as HMRC.

Dom's advice - how to avoid falling hook, line and sinker

If you're ever in doubt about an email always contact your bank directly.

Be aware that UK banks will never contact you requesting passwords or to verify account details.

If you get an email addressed to you generically such as "Dear Valued Customer" it's not likely to be from your bank; after all they should know your name.

If you think you have given your details to a phishing scam you should contact your bank immediately.

Click here to visit Bank Safe Online for more information.

Can't see the film? Click here to watch.

"The best is yet to come" is Frank Sinatra's.
Sammy Davis Jr.'s reads "The Entertainer. He did it all."
And can you guess who had the words written... "I told you so, you damned fools"?

For The One Show, Gyles Brandreth visited Brompton Cemetery. Opened in 1840, it holds many thousands of graves, including Emmeline Pankhurst's. The names on the gravestones in this cemetery, for example Peter Rabbett, Mr. McGregor and Mr. Nutkins, inspired Beatrix Potter when she was creating some of the characters in her books.

What will your epitaph be? What words will sum up your life? Humorous? Meaningful? We'd like to know the words you'd choose to have on your gravestone. Tell us below.

Please leave your first name and location on your blog comment, if you'd like your epitaph to be mentioned on The One Show programme.

Millions of people are being hit by the downturn in the economy. Some, in desperation, are turning to illegal lenders for an "easy loan".

These criminals are exploiting people in trouble, so the government has created specialised Illegal Money Lending Teams as part of Trading Standards.

The national freephone number to report an illegal lender is: 0300 5552222.

Alternatively you can email them on: stoploansharks@birmingham.gov.uk

Please note: This is not a general advice service - do not call if you are in legitimate debt.

Also; click here to go to the Trading Standards website that let's you report rogue traders.

Or click here to find your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

There is also the CCCS (Consumer Credit Counselling Service) - a charity offering free, confidential advice to anyone who is worried about debt. Click here to visit their website.