We're all worried about money.
Don't let scammers take yours.
- Traders who knock on your door, asking for upfront payments. You should take the time to ensure all traders are trustworthy before confirming work with them
- Cold callers or door-sellers offering deals. Take time to explore the options available to you
- False online adverts. It’s important that you take the time to check any claims are accurate before buying
- Emails or automated calls pretending to be from the government or an official company.
-
It seems too good to be true – like an email saying you’ve won a competition you don’t remember entering
-
Someone you don’t know contacts you unexpectedly
- You're being urged to respond or pay quickly
- You've been asked to pay for something urgently, or in an unusual way - for example by bank transfer or gift vouchers
- You’ve been asked to give away personal information
- Don’t rush into making any quick decisions. It's OK to take your time. If someone pressures you, it's probably a scam.
- Never give money or personal details, like passwords or bank details, to anyone you don’t know, trust or have only met online. Be wary of unexpected contact.
- Pay by debit or credit card. This gives you extra protection if things go wrong.
- Be suspicious. Scammers can be very smart. They can appear like a trusted business or government official, have a professional website and say all the right things. Take your time to work out if this is a real organisation. Ask them for ID or contact the organisation on an official phone number.
- Before you buy anything, check the company or website you’re using. Read reviews from different websites, search for the company’s details on Companies House, and take a look at their terms and conditions. Research any traders or companies before confirming any payments, particularly if they seem too good to be true.
- If you think someone might be trying to scam you, it’s important to act straight away.
- Don’t click on or download anything you don’t trust
- Make sure your antivirus software is up to date
- Keep your online accounts secure:
- Use a strong password for email accounts that you don't use anywhere else.
- Some websites let you add a second step when you log in to your account. This is known as ‘2-factor authentication’. This makes it harder for scammers to access your accounts
- Protect yourself from further risks
Don’t be embarrassed - contact your bank immediately to let them know what’s happened. You should also change any relevant log-in details, and check for viruses if you were scammed on a computer. - Check if you can get your money back
If you’ve lost money because of a scam, depending on the circumstances you might be able to get your money back by getting in touch directly with the method you used to pay. - Report the scam
Reporting scams protects others from being scammed:
-
- Call the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133
- Report the scam to Action Fraud. They’ll also give you a crime reference number, which can be helpful if you need to tell your bank you’ve been scammed.
- Tell your bank straight away. They may be able to help you get your money back
- Protect yourself by changing your online passwords and checking your computer for viruses
- Report the scam.
○ Check if you can get your money back after a scam
○ What to do if you've been scammed
○ Report a scam
○ Get emotional support if you’ve been scammed
○ Get help with online scams.