Scams
A scam is a scheme designed to con you out of your cash or personal details.
There's a scam out there for everyone. If you let down your guard and think that you won't be fooled, then you too could become a victim.
Scammers are becoming more sophisticated and aim to con us all. Deceptive premium rate competition scams, bogus sweepstakes and lotteries, get-rich quick schemes and fake health cures are some of the favoured means of separating the unwary from their money. And the number of scams just keeps on growing.
The Con
How scam artists succeed - they will:
- catch you unawares, contacting you, without you asking them to, by phone, email, post or sometimes in person
- sound pleasant, well spoken and kind (on the phone or at your door) and want you to think they're your friend
- have slick, professional leaflets and letters
- be persistent and persuasive
- rush you into making a decision
- ask you to send money before you receive their tempting offer or win.
The Pitch
They offer you something for nothing - such as:
- you've won a major prize in a draw or a lottery (even though you haven't entered one)
- an exclusive entry to a scheme that's a surefire way to make money
- a way to earn easy money by helping them get untold millions out of their country
- the chance to join an investment scheme that will make you huge amounts of money.
- There are hundreds of examples but we can all protect ourselves by being sceptical. Is it likely that someone you don't know, who has contacted you out of the blue, will give you something for nothing?
The Sting
They'll ask you to:
- send money up front - an administration fee or tax, the list is endless but it's always a ruse to get you to give them money
- give them your bank, credit card or other personal details
- ring an expensive premium rate number (all UK premium rate numbers start with 090)
- buy something to get your prize.
- They will lie to you and give you what seem to be good reasons why you should do what they say. They will answer all your objections.
Don't send any money or give any personal details to anyone until you've checked that they are genuine, and talked to a professional or family and friends.
If they ask you to do any of these things they're trying to cover their tracks and get your money and it's likely to be a scam.
- they ask you to send money straight away
- they give you a PO box number as their address
- they ask you not to tell anyone about the deal.
- Watch out for claims of lottery winnings, work schemes that guarantee success, cheap loans and “free gifts”
- Don’t send any money up front to claim prizes or winnings
- Never hand over your personal or bank details
- Don’t trust testimonials from “previous winners” or people who claim to have benefited from the offers
- You are often asked for money up front to release your ‘win’
- You are asked for your bank account, credit card details or other confidential information
- You must reply straight away or the money will be given to someone else.
- Remember, in a legitimate contest you do not have to purchase a product to qualify for a prize.
- Be cautious: if you have doubts about a caller – hang up
- Don’t dial a premium rate number unless you are absolutely sure how much you will be charged and you are willing to pay for it.
- Be on your guard if, after dialling one 090 number you hear a message asking you to dial a second 090 number.
- Remember that premium rate telephone numbers attract charges by the minute, usually well above the cost of a local or STD call.
- To reduce unwanted sales calls register your telephone number, free, with the Telephone Preference Service, call 0845 070 0707
- Many telephone companies offer this service. It blocks callers from the UK and Channel Islands who withhold their number
- You can bar all calls to premium rate services and/or international rate numbers. Some phone companies charge for this service
- if in doubt, hang up.
- you cannot be charged for receiving a text unless you sign up to a service
- if you are signed up to a text message service you don't want text the word STOP - and the service has to end immediately
- to reduce unwanted sales text messages register your details with the Telephone Preference Service
- if in doubt, don't reply.
- check if the mailing comes from a member of the Direct Marketing Association
- to reduce unwanted mail register, free, with the Mailing Preference Service, call 0845 703 4599. Registering will make it easier for you to spot a scam in your mail.
- If in doubt, bin the letter.
- use anti-virus software and a firewall. Keep them up-to-date
- don't email personal or financial information
- be cautious opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of sender. These files can contain viruses or other software that can weaken your computer's security
- if in doubt, don't reply.
Tell your friends and family. If you have been a victim of a scam you should report it to:
For scams in general - Consumer Direct [external link] - 08454 040506
For investment scams - Financial Services Authority [external link] -0845 6061234