Scams and warnings - Print version

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A scam is a dishonest scheme designed to cheat you out of your money.

There are many scams with new ones appearing constantly. However, all scams are variations on just a few types of schemes.

We issue regular email alerts to provide you with the latest news on Scams, Business Compliance news and other relevant information.

Sign up to our email alerts [/tradingstandardsemailalerts] and get the latest Business Compliance news and scam reports, together with any reports of rogue traders that may be operating in the city.

Report scams

Reporting any scams you receive can help to build up intelligence on the scammers and how they target people. 

  • If you have received a potential scam message or computer virus but no money has been lost or you haven't responded, contact the  Citizens Advice consumer service [http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/] on 0808 223 1133. 
  • If you have been a victim of a scam and lost money, contact Action Fraud (UK's National Fraud Office) [https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/] on 0300 123 2040

Business Compliance Team

Open 9am–5pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)

COVID-19 (coronavirus)

Unscrupulous criminals are exploiting fears about COVID-19 to prey on members of the public, particularly older and vulnerable people who are isolated from family and friends. Trading Standards is warning people to remain vigilant following a rise in coronavirus-related scams that seek to benefit from the public’s concern and uncertainty over COVID-19.

Members of the public should ignore scam products such as supplements and anti-virus kits that falsely claim to cure or prevent COVID-19. In some cases, individuals may be pressurised on their own doorsteps to buy anti-virus kits or persuaded into purchasing products that are advertised on their social media feeds. In addition, some call centres that previously targeted UK consumers with dubious health products are now offering supplements that supposedly prevent COVID-19.

Communities are also being urged to look out for signs of neighbours being targeted by doorstep criminals. While there are genuine groups of volunteers providing help during self-isolation, there have been reports of criminals preying on residents – often older people or people living with long-term health conditions – by cold-calling at their homes and offering to go to the shops for them. The criminals often claim to represent charities to help them appear legitimate before taking the victim’s money. There are genuine charities providing support, so consumers should be vigilant and ask for ID from anyone claiming to represent a charity.

COVID-19 scams identified include:

Doorstep crime

  • Criminals targeting older people on their doorstep and offering to do their shopping. Thieves take the money and do not return.
  • Doorstep cleansing services that offer to clean drives and doorways to kill bacteria and help prevent the spread of the virus.

Online scams

  • Email scams that trick people into opening malicious attachments, which put people at risk of identity theft with personal information, passwords, contacts and bank details at risk. Some of these emails have lured people to click on attachments by offering information about people in the local area who are affected by coronavirus.
  • Fake online resources – such as false Coronavirus Maps – that deliver malware such as AZORult Trojan, an information stealing program which can infiltrate a variety of sensitive data. A prominent example that has deployed malware is ‘corona-virus-map[dot]com’.

Refund scams

  • Companies offering fake holiday refunds for individuals who have been forced to cancel their trips. People seeking refunds should also be wary of fake websites set up to claim holiday refunds.

Counterfeit goods

  • Fake sanitisers, face masks and Covid19 swabbing kits sold online and door-to-door. These products can often be dangerous and unsafe. There are reports of some potentially harmful hand sanitiser containing glutaral (or glutaraldehyde), which was banned for human use in 2014.

Telephone scams

  • As more people self-isolate at home there is an increasing risk that telephone scams will also rise, including criminals claiming to be your bank, mortgage lender or utility company.

Donation scams

  • There have been reports of thieves extorting money from consumers by claiming they are collecting donations for a COVID-19 ‘vaccine’.

Loan sharks

  • Illegal money lenders are expected to prey on people’s financial hardship, lending money before charging extortionate interest rates and fees through threats and violence

Members of the public are being urged to keep in contact with family members regularly and inform them of the most prolific scams and the possible dangers to them. If someone has been targeted by a scam it can be reported to Action Fraud online [http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/] or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Advice and information on how to check if something might be a scam from Citizens Advice [http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/check-if-something-might-be-a-scam].

Scams Action service - The Citizens Advice Service

When Martin Lewis took legal action against Facebook for publishing scam adverts that used his image. A settlement was agreed which included funding Citizens Advice Scams Action service.

The service will help support people who have been - or who might be impacted directly - by online scams.

It will provide help for people through telephone, chat, website content and face-to-face support for those who need it through referrals from the phone or chat service.

The Citizens Advice Scams Action can be contacted via:

How to recognise and beat the scammers

About half the adult population is likely to have been targeted by a scam. One in 15 has fallen victim, with a total estimated loss of about £3.5 billion per year. This is about £70 for each adult living in the UK. These scams use low-cost, mass-marketing techniques to target people.

Many of these scams start overseas, making them difficult to trace and close down, even with International Law Enforcement co-operation.

How to recognise a scam

Avoid getting the phone calls

If you don't want to get sales and marketing calls, you should register with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) which has a central opt out register covering individuals and companies. By law, companies cannot call numbers registered on the TPS. This service is free of charge. For further information visit the Telephone Preference Service website.

Businesses - How to protect your staff

Audit your systems/procedures for invoicing and payment to make sure you are protected. Here are some specific actions you could consider taking to prevent you from becoming the victim of a scam or to help if you are already being targeted by a rogue company.

Telephone calls

Do not agree to place an advert over the phone unless you are dealing with a business that you have rung because you want to do business with them. If someone calls you, insist on seeing written details and a copy of the publisher's full terms and conditions before placing an order. Some victims have received a string of calls that have become increasingly threatening and abusive. Try to keep a record of such calls - time, date, name of caller, and a note of what was said. Always know who you are speaking to. By law, any callers should identify themselves and the company from which they are calling. Be particularly wary if the initial caller transfers you to someone else during the call and always ask the next person you speak to for his name, the name of the company, in which department he works and his contact number. If the person you are speaking to cannot, or will not, provide these details, or if he becomes abusive, end the call straight away. If it is claimed that there is a tape recording proving that an order has been placed, ask for a copy of it.

Demand letters

If you receive demands for payments for something you believe you have not ordered, it is well worth taking a few minutes to send a written reply, stating clearly why you feel you do not owe any money. Always keep a copy for your records.

Threats to seize goods

Some victims have been threatened with having their goods or belongings seized to pay the alleged 'debt'. The only lawful way the publisher can do this is to get an order in the county court, instructing you to pay (for which there has to be a hearing where you can attend and defend yourself). Then, if you do not pay, the publisher must go back to court for a warrant which allows them to seize goods to the value of the debt.

Threats of court action

Victims are known to have received letters which have stated, "..... this is your last chance to pay, attached is a summons we have obtained to take you to court if you do not pay now .....". The document that accompanied such letters is not a summons but a copy of the application form that must be submitted to a county court to ask for a hearing. Some victims have been limited companies and the rogue publisher involved threatened to start insolvency proceedings by applying to the courts for a 'winding up order'. In most cases, the threat was an empty one because such proceedings can only be started for debts of more than £750 and the amount owed was less than that. It is useful to remember that it would cost the rogue publisher money to take you to court, often much more than it claims you owe. The rogue publisher will have to prove that you owe the money before the court can make a decision against you, and you will have the chance to defend yourself. Rogue publishers will not spend money chasing a false debt; they are much more likely to look for another victim who will pay up without a fuss. Take independent legal advice if you are in any doubt.

Publishing/marketing company questionnaire 

To be completed by all staff taking calls by telephone. 

Here are some questions you can ask if you are 'cold called' by a publishing company you have never dealt with before. The answers will help you to decide whether you want to do business with them, and may help to protect you if they try to operate some sort of scam. 

  • How did you get my / our contact details? 
  • What is your name? 
  • What is your contact number? 
  • What is the name of your company? 
  • What is your company address (or where are you based)? 
  • What is the name of the publication in which you want me to place an advert? 
  • What type of publication is it (wall planner, year book, other booklet)? 
  • How many copies will be printed? 
  • Where will they be distributed/circulated? 
  • How can I get hold of a copy of your publication? 
  • Is the publication being produced for of another organisation? YES / NO 
  • If YES, what is the name and address of that organisation? 
  • Is that organisation or your company a registered charity? YES / NO 
  • If YES, what is the registered number of the charity? 
  • If I agree to place an advert, what percentage will go to that charity? 
  • Make a note of the outcome of the call (did you agreed to an advert or not?) 

Signed:
Name:
Time:
Date:

Publishing scams

Most publishers are reputable, providing valuable services to businesses. However, a small minority will resort to dishonesty. Rogue publishers can make huge sums of money by getting victims to pay for adverts in publications that do not exist, or are not what people are led to believe. Although the amounts involved are not often large, the tactics used by rogue publishers (particularly when chasing payments) can cause nuisance and, sometimes, genuine alarm or distress.

A typical rogue publisher is little more than a telesales team armed with a pile of telephone directories and other publications containing adverts. Smaller businesses are often targeted and the callers use deliberately misleading language, often carefully scripted, to sell advertising space in various types of publications - wall planners, diaries, yearbooks, crime prevention or drugs awareness booklets. Costs usually range from about £100 to £1,000, depending on the size of advert. Sometimes it is claimed the publication is being produced on behalf of some reputable or worthy sounding cause, or that proceeds will go to charity.

In reality, some of these rogue publishers produce nothing at all and, although some may produce a few token copies of the supposed publication, these are not circulated in large numbers, or in the right areas, to be of any real benefit to the advertisers. 

As with most scams, prevention is better than cure. The more that people know about such operations, the less likely they are to become victims. 

Publishing Scam examples

Bogus invoice scam 

The simplest and most obvious scam is that bogus invoices are sent to businesses for adverts in fictitious publications. This is a very crude hit and miss approach but a surprising number of victims pay the invoice without question, particularly if the amount involved is relatively small. Summer months are a popular time for such scams, when key accounts and management staff are on leave. 

Many bogus invoice scams are now sent by e-mail. A typical tactic is to make reference to a fictitious order that has been placed and indicate a specific amount of money that has, or is due to be, deducted from their credit card/bank account. The real purpose of the e-mail is to get people to click on a link within the e-mail. This often takes the user to a malicious website that will attempt to load a virus or other malware onto the user's PC. Such e-mails should be deleted immediately - under no circumstances should users click on links within the e-mail. 

Operative transfer scam 

The business gets a call from a telesales worker who claims to be from a legitimate publisher that the company has used before (contact details are often obtained from genuine publications in which they have previously advertised). If the victim expresses an interest, they are transferred to another person, allegedly in a different department. Victims often agree to place an advert because they believe they are dealing with a publisher they have used before and it is not until an invoice arrives from a publisher they have never heard of that they suspect anything. If attempts are made to contact the publisher concerned, however, they are usually told that the call in which they agreed to place an advert was tape recorded, which the rogue publisher then claims is 'evidence' of a 'verbal contract'. Of course, the conversation with the first person (during which the victim has been deceived) is never recorded, only the conversation with the second person who has actually done the 'selling' - and that person is careful not to mention the name of the company that he represents. 

Authorisation scam 

An initial call is made to a business and the caller asks for the details of two people who can authorise an advert to be placed. Later, a call is made to one of those people who is asked to authorise an advert that he is led to believe has been provisionally booked by the other person, who is referred to by name to make the story sound genuine. Often, the victim authorises the advert without checking with the other person. 

Repeat business scam 

A business is contacted by phone or letter and asked if they want to place an advert in the next edition of a publication which they are falsely informed the business has advertised in before (the likelihood being that there was no previous edition). In some cases where the approach is by letter, photocopies of adverts taken from publications like Yellow Pages are included to give an air of authenticity. Many victims authorise the 'repeat advert' without checking any further.

Credibility scams

In order to give their supposed publication respectability and appeal, many rogue publishers will claim some connection with a worthy cause or charity:

  • Charity booklets - Some rogue publishers mislead victims to believe they are registered charities by using names very similar to well-known legitimate charitable organisations. Some do produce booklets and pamphlets on behalf of registered charities. The publisher keeps any revenue that is generated from advertising and may produce some booklets or pamphlets that it gives to the charity concerned to distribute. Some unscrupulous publishers, however, only produce a small amount of these and many of the adverts, for which they have taken payment, never appear in print. Others will claim that part of the revenue generated by their publication will be donated to a specific charity with which they claim affiliation and whose name is used to entice advertisers. Often, however, only a tiny fraction of the money the publisher receives ends up with the charity involved. Many victims agree to place an advert because they feel they are making a substantial contribution to charity, but might not do so if they knew how much was going straight into the pockets of the publishers involved. 
  • Crime prevention 'yearbooks' - Rogue publishers may claim that these are being produced with the help of agencies such as the police when, in fact, they have no involvement at all.
  • 'Drug awareness' or 'Youth action' booklets - Rogue publishers often claim that these will be distributed in schools and colleges. The key question is which schools and colleges because, for most small businesses, that form of advertising is only effective if it is done in their local area. 

Debt collection

No matter what tactic is used, once a victim has received an invoice from a rogue publisher, they will probably be chased relentlessly for the money. Some victims pay up even though they feel they have been 'conned' because they feel it is simply not worth the time and effort to make a stand. But this will mean they are identified as an 'easy touch' and will be targeted again. The details of businesses that pay up are valuable to scammers and can be sold on.

Some rogue publishers chase payment through 'debt collection agencies', but these are often owned and run by the publishers themselves, sometimes from the same premises. They are likely to use methods that legitimate agencies would not. 

Business Compliance Team

Open 9am–5pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)

Marketing scams

Data protection registration

Thousands of businesses have had letters from companies asking for payment for registration under the Data Protection Act. Such letters give the impression that they come from an official body and that you are legally obliged to register with that company immediately - at a cost of up to £100, plus VAT. While many businesses handling personal data must, by law, notify the Information Commissioner, they can do so directly for a fee of £35 per year. Often, small firms that process such data for limited purposes don't have to pay at all.

Health and safety registration

Businesses also need to beware of bogus health and safety organisations. Small firms have been sent letters requesting between £125 and £250 to become registered with a false enforcement agency that promises to run checks on their health and safety measures. All UK organisations are required, by law, to register with a health and safety enforcement agency - either the HSE or their local authority - but this service is free of charge. The Health & Safety Executive never sends out unwanted demands for money. It does offer a "Safety Starter Pack" for £30 and can advise on who you need to register with. Visit the Health and Safety Executive website or call the HSE information line: 08453 450055. Or, call your local Environmental Health Service for advice. 

Business directories

Another regular scam is based on business listings either in published directories, electronic directories (CD-ROMS) or on websites. Beware of 'official-looking' invoices from trade directories asking for your fax, internet and e-mail details. These might appear to be simple requests inviting a free listing but watch out for small print commitments to pay hundreds of pounds for an entry. If you reply, it is then claimed that you have entered into a contract for an expensive, yet worthless, listing and that you have to pay. One example was a CD-Rom directory; free for the first issue but, in the small print, a commitment to pay £661 for three further issues. If some form of directory is actually published, there may be no criminal offence and a lawful contract will be place. 

Business rates

'Rate-reduction' firms are also targeting small firms. In exchange for large fees, businesses are led to believe they will get their business rates reduced on appeal. In fact, the fees for the service may be more than any saving. Rates may also be increased. Typical claims are:

  • "We have a team of fully qualified professionals."
  • "We have achieved big reductions for several clients."
  • "We can get huge reductions on your rates."
  • "You will have nothing to pay unless we succeed."

None of these claims should be accepted without proof. Don't believe claims that are made before an investigation of your property has even been carried out. Make sure you get a written contract and check it carefully to find out how much you will have to pay and when. 

Your local valuation officer can discuss the rateable value of your property and provide an appeal form for free; information is also available on the Valuation Office Agency website. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors also operates a business rates helpline offering a free half hour consultation on business rates appeals: 0870 3331600. 

Business stationery

This is another commonly targeted area. One common practice is the 'unfulfilled order'. The scam company supplies an order and, some months later, says it has made a mistake and there are some items still to be delivered. The unsuspecting business agrees to the offer of the remaining items and is also given some vouchers or another item to make up for the supposed mistake, but when the goods arrive they do not come with an invoice. A short while later an invoice for a huge amount arrives and the receiver, despite his protests, is told to pay. 

Rules relating to charities

All charity-related publishing houses have a responsibility to provide would-be donors and clients with a 'solicitation statement'. This must set out what proportion of their donation will be used for charitable purposes, and has to be given during the course of any, and each, representation made by the publisher. It is an offence to fail to give this solicitation statement. 

Where a 'donation' of more than £50 is made as a result of a telephone call, the fund raiser must issue a notice explaining which institutions will benefit and how, as well as providing full details of the right to cancel (this is usually included on the invoice). The donor then has seven days to cancel, at which point the donation must be refunded.

Clothing collection scams

Over 90% of the goods sold in charity shops are donated by people like you, and charities rely on your support and generosity.

Household collections are a popular way for charities to collect donations, but beware - some of these collections are bogus. 

Don't stop giving to charities and those in need

Donating your clothing and other goods to genuine charities helps to raise vital funds. But please make sure that your donation goes to a proper charity or organisation collecting on their behalf. Taking care when making your donation means that you can be sure that your help goes to those who really need it - and that charities don't lose out.

Be aware - treat with caution

Unfortunately, anonymous 'bogus' collectors may take advantage of your generosity for their own gain. They may also steal donations left out for collection by genuine charities. These bogus collections cost charities at least £2 million a year.

Be careful - don't be misled

Don't be taken in. Read the small print. Know where your donation is going. Check contact details, as they might be false. Are they clear? Is the charity named? As a general rule, if there is no  telephone number the people who put the leaflet through your door don't want you to call - for a reason.

Check before you give

If you have any doubts about leaflets asking for donations, check them out.

Dealing with unwanted salespeople and fraudsters

Whether you are contacted by a genuine salesperson or a fraudster, they may both have got your name and personal details in a similar way. There are many companies and other organisations (including councils) that collect and sell information about you. Stopping information about you being collected or sold will reduce calls from genuine sales people and fraudsters.

  1. Avoid filling in marketing surveys or questionnaires. Junk/scam mailers buy this information to send unwanted post, junk e-mails and make telephone calls. Some traders might even use the information to make doorstep visits.
  2. If you receive junk mail with a return address on the envelope, write 'unsolicited mail, please return to sender' on the envelope and put it back in the post unstamped. This may disrupt their activities and increase their costs. Do not respond to such letters in any other way.
  3. Remove your name and address from www.192.com [https://www.192.com]. Use form: 'C01 record correction form' available from their website. 192.com [https://www.192.com] is one of the principal UK directories used by companies to get names, addresses and telephone numbers.
  4. Register regularly with the Mailing Preference Service [http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/] (free of charge) and there is a similar free scheme for unwanted telephone calls - Telephone Preference Service [http://www.tpsonline.org.uk] or phone 0845 070 0707.
  5. When you fill out your annual electoral registration form, choose for your details NOT to be added to the 'Edited Electoral Register' (sold for marketing purposes). Read the registration form carefully and tick the box to ensure that your details will appear on the 'Full Register' only (used for elections, crime prevention and credit checks). Contact your local elections office.
  6. Whenever you give your name, address or e-mail to an organisation, for instance when you buy a product or service, always tick the opt out boxes to say that you don't want any further information about 'other products and services' and you don't want your details shared with 'carefully selected' third parties.
  7. If you want to stop unaddressed mail, opt out of Royal Mail's door to door service [http://www.royalmail.com/you-home/controlling-your-mail]. However, doing so may prevent you from receiving important mail from the Government.
  8. Screen your phone calls using a suitable device such as an answer phone. Avoiding answering unwanted phone calls may reduce the number you receive.
  9. Use junk/spam e-mail filters on your PC to reduce the number of junk e-mails you receive.
  10. Put a 'no junk mail' sign on your letterbox.
  11. Don't respond to any unwanted letters, e-mails or telephone calls. You will only encourage them (and others that they share your information with), to send more.
  12. If you are visited - our advice is never to deal with cold callers as this is the favoured approach used by rogue traders who only want to get as much money from their victims as possible. If anyone comes to your home unexpectedly offering good or services, say no, or better still don't open the door. 

Callers can always drop information through your door and you can then make a reasoned decision without feeling under pressure to buy. And finally - NEVER send any money to anyone who contacts you out of the blue and don't agree to transfer money using money transfer services such as UKASH or Western Union, both of which are untraceable.

Make a complaint 

The Citizens Advice consumer service provides free, confidential and impartial advice on consumer issues. Visit www.adviceguide.org.uk [http://www.adviceguide.org.uk] or call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 or 0208 1850 710 (English language).

If you have been a victim of fraud, ensure your bank is aware. You could also report the fraud to your local Police and to Action Fraud [https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/].

Warnings and alerts - April 2020 to March 2021

Help to stop scammers by telling your friends and family of any scams you are aware of - Your actions may help prevent others from being targeted by scammers.

How to report scams

If you've received a potential scam message but no money has been lost or you haven't responded to it, contact Citizens' Advice consumer service [http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/] on 0808 223 1133. 

If you have been a victim of a scam, contact Action Fraud (UK's National Fraud Office) [https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/] on 0300 123 2040.

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Warnings and alerts - April 2019 to March 2020

Help to stop scammers by telling your friends and family of any scams you are aware of - Your actions may help prevent others from being targeted by scammers.

How to report scams

If you've received a potential scam message but no money has been lost or you haven't responded to it, contact Citizens' Advice consumer service [http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/] on 0808 223 1133. 

If you have been a victim of a scam, contact Action Fraud (UK's National Fraud Office) [https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/] on 0300 123 2040.

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Warnings and alerts - April 2018 to March 2019

Help to stop scammers by telling your friends and family of any scams you are aware of - Your actions may help prevent others from being targeted by scammers.

How to report Scams:

If you've received a potential scam message  but no money has been lost or you haven't responded to it, contact Citizens Advice consumer service [http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/] on 0808 223 1133. 

If you have been a victim of a scam, contact Action Fraud (UK's National Fraud Office) [https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/] on 0300 123 2040.

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Warnings and alerts - April 2017 to March 2018

Help to stop scammers by telling your friends and family and by making us aware of any scams that you have come across by sending your scam letters to our Freepost address: 'Scamnesty' - Trading Standards, Freepost (CV681) Coventry CV1 1BR. Or telephone Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud reporting centre on 0300 123 2040.

Your actions may help prevent others from being targeted by scammers 

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Scam awareness

What to look out for:

Scams are crimes that affect people across society with distressing and sometimes disastrous consequences. Many go unreported either because the consumer does not spot something amiss or because people who become victims of scams feel a sense of shame.

To understand and prevent these cruel crimes it is essential that consumers get the information they need to spot scams in the first place; report them when they are targeted and get the advice they need to help protect themselves in future.

Each year millions of people in the UK fall prey to scammers.  Estimates put the figure lost to scammers by as much as £5billion.  The truth is – with reporting levels as low as 5% for some types of scams – we really don’t know!

Scam Awareness is all about consumers getting together with the help of Trading Standards and other organisations to create a community of informed consumers who are alert to the dangers, who know where to make a report of a scam and are ready to talk about their experiences to help prevent others falling victims to the scammers.

Always remember...

  • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
  • It you haven’t bought a ticket – you can’t win it.
  • You shouldn’t have to pay anything to get a prize.
  • If in doubt, don’t reply. Bin it, delete it or hang up.
  • Persuasive sales patter? Just say: "No Thank You".
  • Contacted out of the blue – be suspicious.
  • Take your time – resist pressure to make a decision straight away.
  • Never send money to someone you don’t know.
  • Walk away from job ads that ask for money in advance.
  • Your bank will never attend your home to collect cash, your PIN, payment card or chequebook if you are a victim of fraud.
  • Your bank will never phone you to ask for your PIN or your online password.
  • Genuine computer firms do not make unsolicited calls to help you fix your computer
  • Don’t suffer in silence – speak out about scams and help others fall victim to the scammers.

What are scams?

Scams are schemes to con people out of their money. Other names for scams include fraud, hoax, con, swindle or cheat. Scams come in a variety of ways: post, phone, email, online, sometimes via a knock on the door.

There are hundreds of scams: fake lotteries and prize draws, bogus health cures, dodgy investment schemes, pyramid selling, phishing – to name just a few. These may change as more people become aware of them and as scammers attempt to keep one step ahead.

Every year more than three million people in the UK fall victim to scams losing hundreds and even thousands of pounds. It is estimated that nearly half of people in the UK (48 per cent) have been targeted by a scam and that £3.5bn is lost to scams every year.

People from all walks of life and of all ages get conned because scammers are clever and always on the lookout for dubious new activities.

There are some practices which may leave consumers deeply frustrated or even out of pocket, for example, a legitimate company providing a poor service or a utility company representative persuading people to switch without any financial benefit.

Common scams

New scams are emerging all the time. Some seem far-fetched as scammers seek new variations on familiar themes. They employ well-honed techniques to create a sense of urgency, opportunity, threat, - whatever it takes to cajole and coerce people into parting with money or their potentially valuable information.

  • Pension scams – with the new pensions freedoms it is essential that consumers make informed decisions about their savings.  Be wary of phrases such as “one-off investment”, “free pension reviews”, “legal loopholes” and “cash bonus”.  The initial approach is often out of the blue by phone text or email.  After building up the victims trust they persuade them to make hasty decisions.  The sting in the tail is that not only do victims lose their savings but hey can also face a hefty tax bill as well.
  • Vishing – this is a phone scam where fraudsters impersonate someone from a bank, the police or other legitimate organisation.  Increasingly the scam involves the victim being persuaded to transfer monies to a new “safe” account.
  • Courier scams – in 84% of cases this starts with an unsolicited call or text that a banking fraud has been detected.  The scam is completed when the caller arranges to attend the address to collect the bank card.
  • Subscription traps – this scam sees consumer trapped into long-term contracts by “free” or trial offers with health, nutrition and beauty related products most frequent. 
  • Dating scams – the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau reports that online dating fraud has risen by 33% with losses totalling £34 million
  • Computer software service – the victim is cold called by phone and told there is a problem with their computer and for a fee this can be fixed.  The victims are talked through he logon steps in order for the fraudster to gain remote access to the computer where they obtain personal and financial information.
  • Online shopping and auctions- a range of scams including bogus websites, spoof payment services and second chance offers for phantom products.

 Some not so new scams

  • Advance fee - A letter offers a huge payment in return for help in getting money out of a foreign country. People are promised a slice of that money for helping with the transfer. They may be asked for bank details. Once they have these the fraudsters raid the victim’s bank account.
  • Clairvoyants and psychics - Mailings from a so-called psychic or clairvoyant make predictions. Some warn of dire consequences unless a fee is paid, some promise a bright future with details to follow if people pay up first. Those who send money get little or nothing in return and are likely to be bombarded by further scam mailings.
  • Phishing - an email apparently from the receiver’s bank arrives requesting them to update, validate or confirm details. It’s designed to trick people into revealing personal information and passwords so that scammers can access their account. SMShing is when mobile phone text messages are used to lure people onto fraudulent websites or invite them to call a premium rate mobile number or download malicious content via the phone or web. Voice Phishing or Vishing is the criminal practice of obtaining personal or financial information over the telephone.
  • Pyramid selling - People are told they can earn money by recruiting new members to a money-making venture. This is pyramid selling and it is illegal – only a tiny minority make money, everyone else loses.  What’s current?

What can you do to tackle scams?

  • CHECK with a trusted friend, relative or neighbour
  • GET advice
  • REPORT scams and suspected scams to the Citizens Advice consumer service: 0808 223 1133
  • TELL family, friends neighbours so that they can avoid scams

There are some other easy steps to cut down on unwanted telephone, postal and doorstep calls:

Where to get help and advice

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