People in the UK lost £1.2 billion to fraud in 2024, equivalent to £2,300 every minute. If you have been a victim of a scam, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service for advice and support on 0808 223 1133. The following links provide more information and help.
- ScamAware
Information from Hertfordshire Trading Standards on Scams and Frauds - Action Fraud call 0300 123 2040 or go to www.actionfraud.police.uk
To report a suspicious text, forward it free to 7726. To report a suspicious email, you can forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. - Check if something might be a scam - Citizens Advice is a link to the advice pages for Citizens Advice for general advice on scams
- ScamSmart is a communications campaign by the Financial Conduct Authority designed to help prevent investment fraud. The website www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart gives investors tips on how to spot the techniques used by fraudsters and hosts the FCA Warning List.
- The FCA Warning List is an online tool that helps users find out more about the risks associated with an investment and check a list of firms the FCA knows are operating without its authorisation.
- Pension Scams - Visit www.pension-scams.com to learn more about pension scams
- Beware of Winter Fuel Payment scams
Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically, you do not need to do anything. If you receive any text messages about Winter Fuel Payments, it's a scam.
Not sure if a message is real? Contact the organisation directly using the contact details on their official website, not the number or web address in the message.
Your bank (or any other official source) won’t ask you to supply personal information by email or text message.
If you have spotted a suspicious SMS or RCS message, you can report it for FREE by forwarding it to 7726.
- Safety Online - Back to Basics
- You can download this handy booklet with hints and tips on staying safe online.
- Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, has launched a new ticket fraud awareneness campaign.
Follow their top tips to avoid falling victim to ticket fraud:
- Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, official promoter or agent, or a well-known ticketing website.
- Avoid paying for tickets by bank transfer, especially if buying from someone unknown. Credit card or payment services such as PayPal give you a better chance of recovering the money if you become a victim of fraud.
- The password you use for your email account, as well as any other accounts you use to purchase tickets, should be different from all your other passwords. Use three random words to create a strong and memorable password, and enable 2-step verification (2SV).
- Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts or adverts offering unbelievably good deals on tickets.
- Is the vendor a member of STAR? If they are, the company has signed up to their strict governing standards. STAR also offers an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service to help customers with outstanding complaints. For more information visit star.org.uk/buy_safe.
- Impersonation Scams
When a scammer pretends to be a trustworthy organisation, such as Amazon or a bank, in order to steal your money or personal information. They may contact you by phone, email, text or a message on social media. Impersonation scams can be difficult to identify. Here are some red flags indicating an impersonation scam:
- False urgency. Scammers often try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they're asking.
- Asking for personal information. Scammers may try to persuade you to provide personal information over the phone such as addresses, payment information, account login credentials, or financial information.
- Purchases. Scammers may try to ask you to send money through a third-party site or wire transfer.
- Payment via gift cards. Scammers may request you to purchase and exclusively pay with gift cards. They may ask for the gift card number, claim code, or PIN.
- Unexpected order. You may receive notification of an order or delivery for an item you weren't expecting.
If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040, or call Police Scotland on 101.
- Friends Against Scams
This organisation provides lots of information and contact details for services to help you if you are worried about cold callers, either in person or on the telephone, and junk mail. These include:- Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline - Telephone: 0800 123 2040
- Trustworthy local traders - Telephone: 01707 292 429
- Mailing Preference Service - Telephone: 0207 291 3310
- Telephone Preference Service - Telephone: 0207 291 3320
- Action Fraud - Telephone: 0300 123 2040
Always report scam emails, texts, websites, adverts and phone calls
Visit: www.ncsc.gov.uk/report-scam-website or www.actionfraud.police.uk
- Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk
- Forward scam texts to 7726 (handy tip: 7726 spells out SPAM on a phone keypad)
- Report suspicious phone calls: text 7726 with the word ‘Call’, followed by the scam caller’s number or call 0300 123 2040
- Report fake/scam websites, adverts, and more - visit: https://ncsc.gov.uk/report-scam-website
If you are a victim
- Don’t be embarrassed.
- Scams can, and do, happen to anyone.
- Always report to help prevent others falling victim to scams.
If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040, or call Police Scotland on 101.
Below are links to two small booklets you can download containing information about various scams and what to do about them