There are two main types of scams:
- a mass marketing scam - this is a misleading or deceptive business practice where the person is ‘cold-called’ (uninvited contact) by letter, email, phone or advertisement and false promises are made to obtain money
- doorstep scam - this is where victims are cold-called at their homes and persuaded to part with money.
How to spot a scam
It’s easier to spot a scam if you know what to look for.
Signs of a scam can include:
- an opportunity that comes out of the blue or from someone you don’t know
- something sounds out of the ordinary – such as winning the lottery, or being invited to invest in an ‘amazing’ scheme which must be kept secret
- being asked to pay for something in advance – especially by bank transfer
- being asked for personal information – such as bank details, computer passwords or PIN numbers
- being pressured into buying something or making a decision quickly – a trustworthy company will be happy to wait
- being asked to phone an expensive number – these usually start with 070, 084, 087, 090, 091 or 098.