How to Spot Scams: Red Flags, Spoofing & QR-Code Traps

Fraudsters are getting slick — but you can stay one move ahead. In this Money Mentor episode, David Braithwaite shares the latest scam tactics (spoofed phone numbers, “update your payment” emails, fake council-tax refunds, and even QR-code stickers in car parks) and how to beat them.

What you’ll learn in minutes:

  • The classic red flags: urgency, unusual payment methods (gift cards/crypto), suspicious links, caller-ID spoofing, and “keep this secret” requests.
  • David’s three-step rule: Pause → Verify → Don’t click.
  • Exactly what to do if you’ve paid or shared details (contact your bank immediately; report and get support).
  • Where to report and get alerts: Text spam to 7726, Action Fraud, Kent Police, Which? scam alerts, and the Stop Think Fraud hub.

Listen below and share with someone who needs a quick refresher — it could save them hundreds (or thousands).

Listen here

Money Mentor is a weekly feature on BBC Radio Kent with Citrus Financial’s David Braithwaite — helping you feel better off from having met us.

You can here more from BBC Radio Kent on the BBC Sounds

Citrus Financial named in Citywire New Model Adviser Top 100 for the second year running

Citrus Financial has been selected for the Citywire New Model Adviser (NMA) Top 100 firms for 2025. It’s our second year in a row in the list...

Are You Letting Your Money Go to Waste?

According to Barclays’ latest UK Investment Gap report* (September 2025), people in Britain are sitting on more than £600 billion in cash that could...

Getting to Know: Jenny Brockman

Calm, practical and quietly determined, Jenny Brockman brings a thoughtful and down-to-earth approach to financial planning. After gaining her...

Stay in the loop

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER