Don't Be Fooled
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.
Recognising a scam - is it too good to be true?
The Office of Fair Trading have created the following guide:
THE CON
To succeed scam artists 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:
• 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 to 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.
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.
Therefore NEVER 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.
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.
READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE TOP SCAMS
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.
Recognising a scam - is it too good to be true?
The Office of Fair Trading have created the following guide:
THE CON
To succeed scam artists 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:
• 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 to 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.
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.
Therefore NEVER 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.
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.
READ ON TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE TOP SCAMS
