Scam awareness

Scams are schemes to con you out of your money. They can arrive by post, phone call, text message or email or a scammer may turn up at your home.
Each year scams cause consumers to lose millions of pounds.

Would you spot a scam?

What are scams?

Scams make people part with their money and personal details by promising cash, prizes, psychic predictions and fictitious high returns on investments.
The aim is to get people to reveal their personal details, steal their information, or get them to send money.

Something might be a scam if:

• it seems too good to be true – for example, a holiday that’s much cheaper than you’d expect
• someone you don’t know contacts you unexpectedly
• you suspect you’re not dealing with a real company – for example, if there’s no postal address
• you’ve been asked to transfer money quickly or pay in an unusual way – for example, by purchasing vouchers or through a transfer service like MoneyGram or Western Union
• you’ve been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs
• you haven't had written confirmation of what's been agreed
• you receive a letter or phone call about one or more of the following:
  • Telling you that you have won a prize or lottery, or that you can enter a prize draw
  • From a psychic or clairvoyant offering to tell you how to increase the chances of having money, good luck or happiness
  • Offering an investment opportunity
  • Asking for assistance with police or bank investigations
  • Selling overpriced food or health supplements

If you believe you or a family member has been the victim of a scam then you should report it through our partner agency, Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 or online.

If you would like more information on scams or know someone who would, check out our Think Jessica leaflet 

Further support can be found here.