Beware of the 12 deadly scams
|
A new report shows that nearly half the population have been targeted by fraudsters. We reveal twelve of the worst scams currently doing the rounds - and show you how to avoid them
The latest figures from consumer watchdog Which? reveal that five million of us have been the victim of a financial scam – and fraudsters have tried and failed with a further 23 million of us, adding up to half the UK population.
And it’s a costly business – the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) says low-cost mass-marketed scams cost UK citizens over £1bn every year.
The OFT research shows that people of all ages and from all walks of life are being targeted. And it seems that middle-aged people are most vulnerable - 54% of 35 and 44-year-olds and 58% of all 45 to 54-year-olds have been targeted by fraudsters over the past three years.
The scams to watch out for
There are all sorts of scams to watch out for, from costly automated phone lines that trick you into claiming a bogus prize to so-called clairvoyants asking for cash payments to prevent something bad happening to you.
Another common con is ‘phishing’ – this scam sees crooks publish fake websites to trick users into handing over confidential information, such as their bank details. The criminals behind these websites then use the information to steal money from the victim’s bank accounts.
Microsoft reckons there were over 7,000 bogus websites at the end of last year and has just launched legal action against 100 phishing gangs, based in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
But whatever the scam, you need to keep your wits about you to ensure your hard-earned cash doesn’t go towards paying for a thief’s new luxury yacht. We take a closer look at 12 of the most damaging frauds – and show you how to protect yourself.
Print this page 
