Five tips to avoid scammers in the Channel Islands

Doug Melville, chief executive of Channel Islands' Financial Ombudsman, warned people to take action immediately

A senior financial representative has provided five tips to Jersey and Guernsey residents who he believes are more susceptible to fraud due to their "trusting communities".

The chief executive of Channel Islands' Financial Ombudsman, Doug Melville, warned Islanders not to share passwords and not to assume people are who they say they are.

He also warned against screen-sharing, exchanging one-time codes and taking immediate action.

He said: "There's no shame in this, this is a war that we're engaged in."

'Do not share passwords'

Mr Melville said if someone is trying to contact you via phone or text do not assume they are being truthful about their identity.

Instead, he suggested hanging up and not responding to any suspicious text messages.

If concerned, he advised islanders to contact their banks on a trusted contact number.

Islanders have also be told not to disclose passwords.

"Do not ever share your log in details or your passwords," Mr Melville said.

"Anyone asking for them is a bad guy trying to get access to your online bank account."

He also said it was a similar case for one time pass codes, which are normally used to authenticate the bank account holder.

Mr Melville's fourth tip suggested people should be never be allowing external parties access to control their screen remotely.

He said: "You're actually handing them the ability to control your computer and extract information that would help them to get at your bank account."

Mr Melville also stressed people should not be ashamed if they are a victim of a scamming.

He said: "If you realise you have been scammed take immediate action.

"Don't waste your time worrying about it.

"Seek guidance from friends and family as well as you'll need that support, especially if it's a significant amount of money you've lost."