Stay alert to scams
Unfortunately scammers are clever and can make their attempts look genuine. Don't be fooled, it's not just older people who can get caught out by scams, research conducted in December 2020 showed that people aged 16-34 were the most susceptible to scams. How do I know if something is a scam? One of the most important things to remember is that if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Other warning signs are: l Someone you don't know contacting you out of the blue. l You're asked to give away personal information like passwords or your PIN. l You've been asked to transfer money quickly, often to solve a problem you didn't know you had. l Someone refuses to confirm the company or organisation they are contacting you from. l Email addresses or links within an email don't look right. Anyone can fall victim to a scam Scams come in many different forms, but the most common are phone scams, scam mail, phishing emails and doorstep callers.
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If something doesn't feel right, then never be afraid to hang up, bin it, delete it or close the door. l Never give money, personal details or financial information to anyone you don't know. l Before buying online, check the website you're using by reading reviews. l Make sure your antivirus software is up-to-date. l Take your time to work out if an organisation is real, and always ask for ID. A genuine person
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won't mind showing you Don't be rushed into making decisions. It's ok to take your time.
If you are concerned something might be a scam you can use the Citizens Advice online scams tool by visiting www.citizensadvice.org.uk and typing ‘Check if something might be a scam’ in the search bar.
