Scams

Beware of 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.

How to recognise a scam - is it too good to be true?

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.

New scams from the UK and overseas appear every day - so it's important to know how to spot them.

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.

Other things to look out for:

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.

Scams - How to spot and avoid them

Spam scams – tips to help you fight back

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

Use a spam filter – often available with your email package

Protect your email address – never share it with people you don’t know on the internet

Don't be intimidated into sending off money.

How to spot a scam

There are a number of key behaviours that people can look for to spot a scam:

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is

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

The caller is more excited than you

The stranger who calls wants to be your best friend

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.

How to protect yourself against telephone scams

What to do if you receive a phone call?

If you receive a phone call the general advice is:

Be cautious: if you have doubts about a caller – hang up

Never send any money in order to receive a prize

Don’t give out financial information

Canada doesn’t have a national lottery like the UK

Tips to avoid premium rate scams

Remember that premium rate telephone numbers attract charges by the minute, usually well above the cost of a local or STD call.

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.

For more information see Common scams currently in circulation.

Current Scams

Click on the following links to find out more details on what is out there and how you can avoid them.

Lottery scams – you have won a fortune even though you haven’t entered

Letters predicting the future – they will try and scare you in sending them money

Phishing – false emails & websites seeking your log-on details to empty your accounts

Pay-in-advance credit offers - pay a fee for a pre-approved loan or credit card that you won't get back if your application is refused

Email spam scams – a multitude of ways to part you from your cash

Premium rate phone scams – it will cost you £1’s per minute to call

Foreign money offers and advance fee scams – seeking cash from you - not to give you millions in return

Cheque overpayment scam - asking you to transfer them the difference from a cheque that is forged or stolen

Work from home scams – who take your money and provide no work

Weight loss schemes - lose a pile of weight by using a revolutionary pill or patch

Bogus Holiday Clubs – weeks in exotic locations for peanuts

Miracle health cures – that can cure any illness

Pyramid selling – pay a fee & join the club to make a mint

Career opportunity scams – promising you will be the next big thing for an upfront fee

Online dating scams – aka the honey pot - offering you a sob story to part you from your cash

Investment scams – make your fortune with sure fire investments that will only leave you burnt

Charity Publishing Scam – who rarely produce adverts and pay nothing or very little to charities

For more information on scams click:

Rip off Tip Off

Consumer Direct

What to do if you are unsure..

If you are unsure, or you do not want..

…a mailing

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.

…a telephone call

Telephone Preference Service (TPS) - to reduce unwanted sales calls register your telephone number, free, with the TPS, call 0845 070 0707
number block service - many telephone companies offer this service. It blocks callers from the UK and Channel Islands who withhold their number
call barring - 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.

…a text message

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 TPS (see above)
if in doubt, don't reply.

…an email

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.

What to do if you discover a scam

Tell your friends and family. If you have been a victim of a scam you should report it to one of the organisations listed below who can also provide advice:

For scams in general - Consumer Direct
Tel: 08454 04 05 06

For investment scams - Financial Services Authority
Tel: 0845 606 1234

Email to: scams@oft.gsi.gov.uk