Fraud is estimated to cost the UK £137 billion every year[1].

According to a recent AARP survey in the USA the military community – veterans, serving military and their families continue to be targeted significantly more by con-artists[2].

Recent research published by the Citizens Advice Bureau in 2022 found that in the first half of the year more than three quarters of UK adults had been targeted by a scammer, with imposter scams very common[3].

Typically, when someone commits an imposter crime they pretend to be someone else, for example from the government or a trusted military group such as Veterans Services. They try and obtain NI numbers, bank account details and other personal information.

As with many fraud crimes the people sound convincing, and you need to be on your guard and address any concerns you have rather than leaving it and seeing what happens. Instinct is normally a good barometer for things like this – just like it probably serves you well in the field.

Imposter crime – pretending to be someone else – is a method used to perform identity theft (stealing personal details) and then go on to perform identity fraud.  Action fraud define identity fraud as when your personal details are stolen (defined as identity theft) and used to commit fraud[4].

Examples of identity fraud crimes include opening bank accounts, taking out loans and credit cards in your name, and securing state benefits due to you. It also includes taking out mobile phone contracts and ordering goods in your name, as well as obtaining passports and driving licences in your name. 

There are various types of identity theft and identity fraud you need to be aware of. This list is not exhaustive but gives you an idea of actions fraudsters might take to access your personal information to then go on to commit identify fraud.

Representing trustworthy institutions

Criminals may try to get personal information by pretending to represent a bank or another trustworthy institution such as HMRC and asking you to verify details about yourself.

Bank or Credit Card Statements and Other Mail

Bank and credit card statements and other mail can contain your name, address, and account details that can be used by identity thieves. Fraudsters may forward your mail to another address sometimes known as a ‘collection address’, where they can intercept it and potentially steal any sensitive information. So you need to be aware and check if you haven’t received some mail you were expecting.

Photo IDs

Photographic identification, such as a driver’s licence, can be altered by criminals to create a new identity or assume an existing one. This may then be used to open new accounts and build up debt.

Emails

Phishing is a method that involves sending fake or fraudulent emails that an unsuspecting victim might open, believing it is from a trusted source (for example .gov.uk). The email may try to convince you to send personal details in a reply or it could release a virus that attempts to steal information from your computer.

So why are the military such attractive targets and can you do anything about that

Firstly, many military personnel are young, often having moved away from their home base for the first time, and inexperienced dealing with finances and household decisions such as renting property. And the mentality of hard-working military young people can be that they are untouchable, so they aren’t alert to possible scams. People who are exposed to physical dangers may be more susceptible to “paper” or non-violent crimes.

At the other end of the scale older people are targeted as they can be seen as a soft touch in relation to online and digital scams, as well as being in a position to make charitable donations. And of course, in relation to identity fraud in particular, if someone is wanting to commit identity fraud, then pretending to be an upstanding military person is attractive to them!

Another big reason military personnel and family may be targeted for fraud is due to the frequent relocating, which means personal information is shared around a lot more, potentially making people more exposed. And this often comes with the partner looking for flexible, shorter term, work from home jobs which exposes them to employment scams.

Communication and taking a breath can be really helpful tools here. If someone contacts you and you aren’t sure then take time to check, think about it, and ask your colleagues or friends what they think. Often articulating the situation makes you realise something is amiss. And you can check the details of the company that is contacting you independently to see if they are consistent.

It is always good practice too, to check your credit record regularly so you can pick up if anything has occurred on your credit record. 

Fraud of any type can impact your bank balance but also your mental wellbeing, leaving you with a sense of powerlessness, frustration, violation and lack of trust. Try and not become the next victim. But it could be comforting to know that Forces Mutual Kit & Personal Possessions Insurance can provide some protection against some of the fraud types mentioned in the article, as it comes with identity fraud cover as standard. There is also an identity theft helpline provided by Ageas Insurance Limited.

Kit & Personal Possessions Insurance is provided by Ageas Insurance Limited.

Find out more: Military Kit & Personal Possessions Insurance | Forces Mutual

PMGI Limited, trading as Forces Mutual is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No. 114942. Registered in England & Wales No.1073408. Registered office: Brookfield Court, Selby Road, Leeds, LS25 1NB. For your security, all telephone calls are recorded and may be monitored.

[1]The financial cost of fraud 2021 | Crowe UK, page 7 of the report

[2] Scambush: Military Veterans Battle Surprise Attacks from Scams & Fraud (aarp.org), page 6

[3] Over 40 million targeted by scammers as the cost-of-living crisis bites – Citizens Advice

[4] Identity fraud and identity theft | Action Fraud

If you are in the market for a new kit insurance policy, or thinking of changing to another provider, what do you need to think about?

1. Take cover!
   Make sure you are properly covered. Specialist service issued kit can be expensive and you aren’t intending to keep it neatly in a cupboard, so the cover needs to be sufficient so you can use it without fearing the worst if something happens. Many kit insurance policies also cover your personal possessions and Licence to Occupy, so it is important to make sure your policy cover level will cover all these elements.
2. Does your policy travel like you do?
   You don’t want a policy that restricts where you are covered. Worldwide policies mean you are confident the cover will extend to whatever part of the world you find yourself in next.
3. You take your personal possessions with you so it would be handy if they were covered.
   Your mobile phone lives in your hand, and other personal tech such as your laptop, iPad, smart watch needs covering. Some kit insurance policies cover you for personal possessions items like these, but also check the cover level. If you have the latest smartphone, no use having cover for a few hundred pounds when it cost you over a grand!
4. Credit rating help – avoid a credit check
   You may find it helpful, for different reasons, to be able to buy a policy that doesn’t require a credit check.
5. Pay monthly without getting hammered for it
   Policies that allow you to pay monthly without charging you extra could fit better with your spending preferences and avoid you having to find a lump sum each year. Some monthly policies include an element of credit charge so take care not to pay extra when you don’t need to.
6. Easier to switch if you are paying monthly
   If you are currently with a kit insurance provider and want to switch to another provider it can be easier if you move from paying monthly with one provider to another where you can pay monthly, rather than waiting to get a refund from an annual policy.
7. You generally get what you pay for
   Yes you can take out the very cheapest premium you can find, but does that give you the reassurance of a policy that has the benefits outlined above?

Remember, lowest cost is not necessarily the best option. Low cost is likely not to provide the cover you need. You want to be confident that if you need to make a claim, you know you took out adequate cover rather than wishing you had!

If you are considering taking out a new kit insurance policy or considering changing your current provider, you may benefit from looking at Forces Mutual Kit and Personal Possessions Insurance. Worldwide cover of up to £40,000 for your service-issued kit and personal possessions comes as standard, including Licence to Occupy. Personal possessions are each covered for up to £1,500 – and you can cover items for more if you specify them on your policy.

You don’t need to undertake a credit check; and you can pay monthly for no extra charge. 

The price difference between many policies available in the market is only a few pounds each month – around the cost of a cup of coffee. So check out Forces Mutual Kit and Personal Possessions Insurance and get a quote: Military Kit & Personal Possessions Insurance | Forces Mutual

Kit & Personal Possessions Insurance is provided by Ageas Insurance Limited.

PMGI Limited, trading as Forces Mutual is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No. 114942. Registered in England & Wales No.1073408. Registered office: Brookfield Court, Selby Road, Leeds, LS25 1NB. For your security, all telephone calls are recorded and may be monitored.

We all use our mobile phones and laptops way too much. Some people – me definitely included! – can’t see themselves being able to function without checking many times a day. So you think we would be extra careful and make sure they are not damaged. Maybe not based on recent research conducted by OnePoll.  

The study found that a third of mobile phone users have damaged or completely broken their phones in the last 12 months[1].

One fifth managed to drop their mobile into the toilet (yes I have friends who have done that!), and 20% either drove over their device or dropped it out of the vehicle window. One in ten stated that their dog bit it. The more active respondents managed to damage their phone whilst playing football with 10% of people having experienced this. Maybe that’s why Messi and Ronaldo don’t play with their phones in their pockets!

Research undertaken by Mintel[2] found that those aged 16-24 are the most accident-prone age group, with 48% smashing their screen in the last two years. 33% of this age group have sensibly taken out insurance to cover them.

No-one wants to have a badly damaged or completely broken phone. And given the price of mobile phones it is not something that you want to be funding out of your own pocket on a regular basis.

Forces Mutual Kit and Personal Possessions Insurance provides worldwide cover for service issued kit. The policy also covers personal possessions including mobile phones and laptops up to £1,500 per item. You can cover your items for more than this but you would have to specify this on your policy. Maybe based on this research this personal possession cover alongside your kit insurance may come in useful!

You can buy Kit and Personal Possessions Insurance online: forcesmutual.org/kit or over the phone: 0151 363 5290.

Kit & Personal Possessions Insurance is provided by Ageas Insurance Limited.

PMGI Limited, trading as Forces Mutual is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No. 114942. Registered in England & Wales No.1073408. Registered office: Brookfield Court, Selby Road, Leeds, LS25 1NB. For your security, all telephone calls are recorded and may be monitored.

 [1] Most common ways that Brits damage their mobile phones revealed – see the full list – Mirror Online

[2] 24% of smartphone owners have broken their screen | Mintel.com

Car theft is unfortunately as bad as ever. In 2020 there were almost 20,000 more cars stolen than in 2019.[i] Even if your car is safely parked on base most of the time, it’s always worthwhile knowing the best ways to avoid getting your car stolen. This article will give you some tips to warn off any potential car thieves.

Simply things to do to keep your car safe

• Always make sure your car is secure before you leave it, even if you just need to leave it for a few minutes. Always shut the doors and windows and lock your car.
• Never leave your car running unattended and always remove the keys from the ignition.
• Never leave any personal items on display. It only takes thieves seconds to smash a car window and steal your property.
• Use secure car parks ideally with monitored barriers or park in busy well-lit areas.
• Use steering wheel or gear shift lock, potential thieves will see them and be put off targeting your car.
• Think about installing an audio alarm or get an electronic engine immobiliser fitted, if it doesn’t come as standard.
• Consider getting a tracking system fitted. If it’s used along with other devices, it might even bring down the cost of your car insurance premium.

Keyless entry

Over the years technology for cars has improved massively, and for some people now you can unlock your car by just having your keys on you and close to the car. But how safe is this?

If you have a car with keyless entry, you might find the following security tips from Thatcham Research useful. The motor insurers’ automotive research centre advises you to:

• Contact your dealer and talk about the digital features in your car. Have there been any software updates you can take advantage of to improve your car’s security?
• Check if your keyless entry fob can be turned off. If it can, and your dealer can also confirm this, then make sure you turn it off overnight.
• Store your keys away from household entry points. Keeping your keyless entry fob out of sight is not enough – thieves only need to gain proximity to the key to amplify its signal.
• Be vigilant and keep an eye out for suspicious activity in your neighbourhood.

Parking at home

Even if your car is parked on your driveway or the street near your house, its safety isn’t guaranteed. There are many small home CCTV systems which aren’t expensive, and they could help catch someone who does try to steal your car. A motion sensor activated security light may also put thieves off.

The more layers of protection you can add the less appealing your car will be to criminals.

And last, but by no means least, make sure that your car keys are not left in an obvious place such as a key hook by the front door or in sight when you are out and about, these are the first place would-be thieves would look.

Forces Mutual provides car insurance for the Military family. For more information about our Car Insurance and how you could benefit, click here or call 0151 363 5290.

Forces Mutual Car Insurance is provided by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Ltd.

PMGI Limited, trading as Forces Mutual is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No. 114942. Registered in England & Wales No.1073408. Registered office: Brookfield Court, Selby Road, Leeds, LS25 1NB. For your security, all telephone calls are recorded and may be monitored.

[i] https://www.rivervaleleasing.co.uk/blog/posts/uks-most-stolen-cars-the-latest-update-rivervale-leasing

Mobile phones and smartphones are an essential part of our lives. They provide precious contact with family when away from home, keep you up-to-date on all the latest news (and gossip) and allow you to keep on top of your finances without having to go to a bank branch. But, as a consequence of our phone’s being with us at all times, it means there’s more chance it can get damaged. Having to repair or replace a phone can be expensive, so we’ve put together some handy tips for keeping your phone and personal information stored on your phone safe:

Protect your phone

1. Invest in a screen protector and case
   The more technology they put on our phones the bigger they seem to get. Which means there’s also a bigger chance of scratching your screen or damaging the phone. An affordable way to help prevent this is to invest in a screen protector and case.
   A sturdy phone case will not only improve your grip on the phone (making it more difficult to slip through your hands), it will help protect your phone from damage and scratches if you do end up dropping it.
   Screen protectors are also a good purchase as they help preserve your phone’s touchscreen sensitivity.
2. Keep your phone dry
   Whilst phones are more resilient to a little water than ever before it doesn’t mean you should be taking it for a dip anytime soon. You should still take precautions to protect your phone from water damage. If it’s raining or snowing heavily make sure you keep your phone securely in a bag or inside pocket of your coat. Better yet – a waterproof or water resistant case is another way to keep the water away.
3. Protect your phone from extreme temperatures
   Your mobile can be a sensitive creature and can have trouble if it becomes too hot or too cold. Exposing your phone to the extremes in temperatures can harm internal workings like the battery and can lead to data loss or needing a new phone altogether.
   The best way to avoid temperature damage is to treat your phone like you would yourself. You wouldn’t go outside on a cold, winter day without your coat, hat and gloves on – so make sure you keep your mobile wrapped up and warm in a bag or your inside pocket. Similarly you wouldn’t stay in the baking sun without sun cream – so keep your phone in the shade and out of the heat.
   If your mobile does overheat or freeze it’s important you allow it to get back to a normal temperature gradually. Don’t blast a hair dryer on your cold phone for example, as this can cause condensation to build up inside your device which can then cause water damage. The best thing to do is to allow your phone time to adjust gradually back to room temperature.

Protect your personal information stored on your phone

4. Downloading apps safely
   Dangerous malware often get its way onto your phone via illegitimate apps downloaded from third-party app stores. So it is always best to use the official app stores when getting a new app – that’s the App Store for iOS users, Google Play for Android phones or any other official app store you clearly recognise.
   It might also be worthwhile investing in a mobile security app. They are designed to keep your phone clear of malware and to stop you becoming victim to phishing scams. There are even apps designed to help you identify your phone’s location and to block unauthorised access to your personal data if it gets stolen.
5. Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi
   It might seem like a no-brainer to use available Wi-Fi when you’re out and about to save on wasting your data. Unfortunately these free networks can be open invites for hackers to steal your personal information including your logins, passwords and financial information. So it’s always best to stay off your online bank account or from using your debit or credit card if you do use public Wi-Fi. If you’ve got no choice but to, it’s best to just use your data instead – it’s the safe option!
6. Keep things private
   We’ve already talked about the importance of getting a screen protector to ensure your screen is scratch free, but they can also be perfect to keep your details private too. Privacy screen protectors are designed to keep your screen black to prying eyes trying to look over your shoulder. They have side-view filters so only you can see your screen, perfect if you have to access your online banking out in public (using a secure Wi-Fi connection of course!).

Kit & Personal Possessions Insurance

While you can do everything in your power to keep your phone damage free, accidents will still happen. So it’s always smart to have your phone insured just in case. Forces Mutual Kit & Personal Possessions Insurance covers your mobile for accidental loss or damage, as well as your service issued kit and accommodation. Find out more about Kit & Personal Possessions Insurance here

Kit & Personal Possessions Insurance is provided by Ageas Insurance Limited.

PMGI Limited, trading as Forces Mutual is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No. 114942. Registered in England & Wales No.1073408. Registered office: Brookfield Court, Selby Road, Leeds, LS25 1NB. For your security, all telephone calls are recorded and may be monitored.