A scam is a scheme designed to con you out of your cash, and there’s a scam out there for everyone.
Twenty eight million people in Britain are targeted each year by scams.
There are many reasons to take a closer look at that winning prize notification or that offer email that just popped up in your inbox.
Scammers are becoming more sophisticated in their approaches, and it is not just the most vulnerable who end up on someone’s hit list.
They can be hard to spot as they generally sound pleasant, well spoken and kind, and they act like they want to be your friend.
They are also skilled in the arts of persuasion and can be extremely persistent. Typically they will let you know (via phone, email, post or even in person) that you've won a prize or can make a lot of money if you do what they say.
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and its partners are campaigning to highlight scams and to make people aware that there is a scam out there for everyone. If you let down your guard and think that you won’t be fooled by a scam, then you too could be a victim.
Visit the Office of Fair Trading's website for more information on how to avoid scams.