Scams Awareness
There are dozens of types of scams circulating at any one time. They offer a chance to invest in an exciting new money-making investment scheme, an unexpected win on a prize draw or lottery, or ask for your bank account details. The scams we see are aimed at businesses as well as consumers.
With the increase in popularity of email and text messages, it is now possible to send unsolicited offers to thousands of people quickly and relatively cheaply. If enough offers are sent, even if a tiny fraction of the people reply, then the scammers can make huge sums.
The letters, faxes and emails can seem very convincing and look professionally produced, but in our experience, promotions of this kind, however they are distributed, are a dishonest attempt to trap you into parting with your money. Our advice to any consumers or businesses is to steer well clear of any such schemes.
How to spot a scam
If you are approached and offered something that seems too good to be true, before you respond, stop and consider:
- Was the offer unsolicited?
- How can I have won a competition of lottery that I haven't entered?
- Did the offer come from overseas?
- Do I have to respond at once, so as not to "miss out" - what's the rush?
- Do I have to make a purchase or send money to win a prize?
- Do I have to give my bank or credit card details?
- Why would my bank ask me to confirm to them my account details?
- Do I have to send the money to a PO Box number?
- Am I asked to keep it confidential?
- Can I afford to lose the money?
In our experience, if an offer appears too good to be true - then it probably is!
Contacts and leaflets
If you think you have been a victim of a scam, or have spotted a scheme that might be dubious, please contact Consumer Direct to let them know.
The Office of Fair Trading (opens in a new window) (OFT) has some good information on scams. You can also download their leaflet, 'How to recognise a scam', by using the link below.
If you are a business who receive cold calls then use the link below to download our scams awareness chart.
You can use the "Rip Off Tip Off" website (opens in a new window), where you can find more useful information on the latest scams.
More information on scams can be found on the Consumer Direct - scams pages (opens in a new window)
Related documents
The following documents are in Portable Document Format (PDF). You can download the PDF software for free from the Adobe website (opens in a new window)