Fraud Awareness: Protect Yourself From Scammers

Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their tactics to steal your money, whether it be through online offers, emails, or phone calls. They will spend time researching you in order to try and trick you into letting your guard down. Remember to take a moment and think critically before responding to any communication or providing any personal or financial information. This can help protect you and your money from these criminals. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Always be extra vigilant and verify the authenticity of any financial institution before engaging with them. If you ever feel unsure that it is us you are dealing with, please get in touch with us using one of the channels listed on our website.

Be sure you’re dealing with us

Boom Community Bank and Boom Credit Union are trading names of West Sussex & Surrey Credit Union Limited. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (FRN 475226).

The only official website of Boom Community Bank is https://www.boomcb.org.uk/ .

Clone firms

Clone firms steal the details of regulated firms and pose as their own. They may hijack business names, imitate websites and publish false contact information. On the surface, it may appear as if you're dealing with a legitimate company, however, you're at risk of losing money if you engage with a clone firm.

We, like most other firms, cannot rule out the possibility that our trading name, logo and/or address will be, or has been, used to try and defraud the public through false correspondence. This type of fraud may be via email, text message or by using a website, any or all of which purport to originate from My Community Bank. The fact that an email or message of any kind appears to come from Boom Community Bank, Boom Credit Union, or West Sussex and Surrey Credit Union Limited does not, of itself, guarantee that the message is legitimate.

Follow this checklist to help you protect yourself against clones:

1. Ignore unsolicited emails and calls as they may be attempts to scam or steal personal information.
2. Exercise caution when interacting with ads on social media, as they may lure you with promises of high returns on investments and direct you to fraudulent websites.
3. Be cautious when receiving an email containing links or attachments, even if the sender appears to be legitimate, instead of clicking on the link, conduct thorough research on the company and visit their official website through a search engine.
4. Contact a firm directly via the channels listed on their website. Be aware that scammers may imitate legitimate company websites by mimicking their design, wording, and even using logos from regulatory bodies to appear legitimate, but the contact information provided may lead to the scammer.
5. Be sure to verify a company's legitimacy by checking the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register for their official contact information, including phone number, email, and address. Do not rely on the contact information provided on a website that the company directs you to.
6. Don’t be rushed. However plausible a salesperson comes across, don’t be rushed into sharing information or entering a deal unless you feel one hundred percent comfortable, however pushy the person may be. Otherwise, you could feel pressured to act quickly and become a victim of a scam, and the money r details you hand over will be lost and unrecoverable.
   

If you have any doubts about an investment opportunity, do not move forward with it. Legitimate companies will not rush you into making a decision. Never share your bank or credit card information unless you are completely certain about who you are dealing with.

We strongly caution the public against sending funds if they have been advised of a change in account details or other account details that were first advised by Boom Community Bank.

When dealing with loan companies

Before providing any funds for deposit products or lending solutions, it is important to take the following steps to protect yourself:

1. Obtain the name of the individual or organisation reaching out to you.
2. Verify their authority by checking the Financial Services Register at fca.org.uk.
3. Utilize the contact information found on the FCA Register to reach out to the firm.
4. If the details provided on the Register are missing or outdated, contact the FCA Consumer Helpline at 0800 111 6768.
5. Review the FCA's list of unauthorized firms and individuals at fca.org.uk/consumers/scams to avoid engaging with fraudulent actors.

Are you interacting with the real Boom?

Make sure you are dealing with the authentic Boom Community Bank by visiting our official website at www.boomcb.org.uk

Boom Community Bank will not be held responsible for any losses or damages incurred by individuals who fall victim to fraud. Boom Community Bank disassociates itself from unauthorized correspondence and warns customers and the public to exercise extreme caution when dealing with unsolicited messages.

How to report a fraud

If you suspect a scam or believe that you have been a victim of fraud, you should inform the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) immediately. You can do this by filling out the fraud reporting form on the FCA website at https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/report-scam-us or by calling the Consumer Helpline at 0800 111 6768. Additionally, you can check the latest scams on the website.
If you have already made a payment to scammers, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.