Mr Joe Keys: Cybercrime and Scams

Wednesday, 5th October 2016: Mr Keys: Cybercrime and Scams

Joe Keys
Joe Keys [left] with Probus President, Paul Gallagher

Mr Keys addressed this topic using a PSNI Power-point presentation which showed that on average 19 people are scammed every minute, and that the number falling victim to cybercrime is increasing.  After conducting a brief quiz to test members awareness of the issues he went on to describe the most common scams.  These are often initiated by a telephone call, text or e-mail which purports to come from someone you know and trust, for example your bank or a company with which you have recently done business.  The advice is to be wary of the unexpected and never to divulge information which could give an unscrupulous person access to your bank account.   In the business world many have been conned by bogus invoices.   Some scammers cast a wide net, sending out thousands of e-mails informing recipients that they have won a cash prize and the money will be transferred to their account as soon as details thereof have been provided.  Others phone with offers too good to be true, yet many fall for them.   Criminals often try to gain access to a house by posing as workmen.  Mr Keys explained that such should never be admitted until their identity had been checked by calling the “QUICK CHECK” freephone 0800 013 22 90.   His talk was followed by a lively question and answer session before a Vote of Thanks was expressed on behalf of the club by probian Jack McFarlane.