What to look for:
It’s easier to spot a scam if you know what to look for. Be careful if:
- Someone you don’t know contacts you out of the blue
- Someone asks you to pay for something or give them money by unusual payment methods such as gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrencies
- Someone you’ve never met in person asks for money
- Something sounds too good to be true – like an online shopping deal or you’ve won a competition, have unclaimed inheritance, or been invited to invest in an ‘amazing’ scheme
- Someone asks you to pay for something in advance – especially by an unusual payment method
- Someone asks you for personal information – like your bank details or passwords or access to your computer
- Someone pressures you into buying something or making a decision quickly.
We aim to reduce the impact of scams by raising awareness and encouraging the public to talk about scams and report them.