Is it just me or has there been a huge wave of attempted theft of our data/details under some guise?

[VladmirsPoutine]

Maybe it's always been around but just this week alone I've been texted by 'Royal Mail' saying I need to pay for an immenint delivery. Another call saying I have a tax rebate and someone ostensibly asking me to download an app or whatever. Is this increasing or am I just seeing it more now. Is this happening to anyone else?

I have noticed a massive increase in scam text messages lately, and friends and relatives all over the country have been mentioning it on Facebook as well.

I incessantly get the 'identity fraud on your NI number on the North border of Wales' calls - at least one a day. I don't know how to stop it and it's my work mobile, so I have to answer.

I would have been worried had I not realised almost immediately that Wales doesn't have a North border - or at least one that has anywhere to commit fraud.

You’re right. I’ve had calls, texts and calls to the landline to which we don’t even know the number.

There’s more of them and they’re getting more sophisticated. I heard a phone in on local radio about scams the other day and the stories people were sharing were jaw dropping.

So it has been increasing! But I'm actually quite shaken because a lot of them sound very genuine iyswim? Like somehow legit?

I’ve had several scam text messages recently, never used to get them before.

I haven't had one for a week or so but I got loads about royal mail parcel waiting in April, and lots of NI number has been compromised.
The latest I have have is my covid test was tried to be delived but failed so I now have to pay for delivery or I won't get any more .
( I get mine through work so def a scam)

There are also lots of scam websites for you to order your test at some just collecting data others saying you have to pay for the test.
A work mate actually fell for this ( to buy for his family ) and paid £50 for 3 test kits which shock horror did not arrive

Yes! In particular emails from Amazon that I would have been completely fooled by had I not realised I’d never used that email address to register with. I also get emails from currys saying I have a payment plan with them.

Our IT security person at work says the number of attacks on the system have shot up over the last year.

We’ve stopped picking up the landline, as all we ever got were fake Amazon Prime calls, but now I get at least three scam texts to my mobile per week about fraud, tax, banks and credit cards! At the same time, our banks and credit card companies have been emailing to let us know they will never phone or text us and ask for details of our accounts!

I receive scam text messages daily from “Royal Mail” and “HSBC”, or “O2” about the account I don’t have with them. Definitely significantly increased recently.