There are many different types of scams, some of the most common scams operated are fake lotteries, deceptive prize draws or sweep stakes, clairvoyants, computer scams, and romance scams.
The criminals attempt to trick people with high value popular items, official looking documents or websites, or convincing telephone sales patter, with the aim of persuading a person to part with money. This could be in the form of paying a processing or administration fee, paying a postal or insurance costs, buying an overvalued product or making a premium rate phone call.
Doorstep scams are crimes carried out by sales people who call, often uninvited, at someone’s home pretending to be a real business or trade.
Initial reporting and advice
If you have made a payment in response to a scam or if your unsure if it was a scam, contact your bank as soon as possible, they may be able to recover some of your money and will refund you in certain circumstances.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger because of a scam (for example, being threatened by an aggressive doorstep caller), call the Police on 999.
REPORT: Action Fraud
Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber-crime where you should report fraud if you have spotted a scam or have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cyber-crime.
You can click here to visit the website or call Action Fraud on 0300 123 20 40.
ADVICE: Citizens Advice Consumer Service
Citizens Advice Consumer Service can offer support if you or someone you know has been scammed. They will give you advice on what to do next.
You can click here to visit the website or call Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or 0808 223 1144 for a Welsh-speaking advisor.
