There is nothing to make your blood run cold like the thought of some chancer taking your savings, scamming you out of your hard-earned or cheating an elderly or vulnerable relative.
Only very recently a dear friend of mine (who was nine months pregnant at the time) had some roofers turn up to her house and scam her out of £8k with a classic roofing scam. She is intelligent, under 40 and not your typical model for this scam. This shows they can sadly happen to any of us.
For obvious legal reasons she has asked not to be named. Mainly she is trying to get her money back. She very shrewdly paid on credit card – something that can help protect you against fraud (read further ideas here).
But this heartbreaking ordeal leads us neatly to our list of the 6 newest scams and how to avoid them. Read carefully and share with your loved ones as some of them are pretty canny.
Cryptocurrency Fraud
If you are offered the opportunity to get rich fast by investing in cryptocurrency or any other digital currencies, be wary. Scammers will convince people to sign up to crypto investment websites, handing over their bank information and personal info.
Fraudsters will encourage victims to invest a little at first, then keep persuading them to add more cash to their account to achieve greater profit.
If you invest in cryptocurrency, make sure you use a legitimate and trusted website. Don’t respond to calls or emails asking you to sign up, and check reviews for the website online before handing over any bank details.
Government agency scams
Have you ever received a letter, email or text message from the government or an associated agency asking you for money or personal info? These communications may look real, but they are likely a scam.
This is particularly the case with correspondence demanding you pay a fee, sign up or register for a website, or requesting bank details to provide you with a tax rebate.
If you receive communications such as these, contact the government agency directly or contact your local council for more advice. They will be able to check if you owe, or are owed, money, or if this is a scam.
Ticket Fraud
This has been a real headline stealer over the last year. With the likes of Taylor Swift and Harry Styles launching huge tours, may people have been left devastated.
Fake ticketing websites are becoming harder and harder to spot. Websites will offer the chance to buy tickets for a popular event, however tickets don’t exist, or the event is sold out. You may pay for ticket that never arrives or agree to meet someone on the day of the concert to retrieve the tickets – but no one shows up, leaving you out of pocket and disappointed.
Before buying tickets, check with the event organiser or the venue to see how and where tickets will be sold. Check the company is legit by looking at reviews and seeing what people’s experience has been like with them. Check they are a registered company, have an office and a proper address rather than a PO Box.
Pay for tickets with a credit card where possible, as you may be able to claim compensation if you buy fake tickets. Also beware of ticket resale websites.
Benefit Fraud
This one is by no means a new scam, but it does constantly evolve with the constant changes to benefits. According to MoneyMagpie.com: “Benefit fraud occurs when someone lies to obtainb benefits and grants they are not entitled to.
“If you receive letters or emails suggesting you are receiving benefits when you aren’t, someone may be committing this type of fraud in your name.
“Similarly, if you are rejected from receiving benefits on the grounds you already receive them, someone may be impersonating you for financial gain.”
If you think this could be the case for you, contact your local council or benefits office and call Action Fraud for advice and guidance.
Energy Fraud
With energy prices soaring over the last few years, scammers are using people’s financial struggles to their advantage. Many people wish their electricity bills were lower – so how can you say no when someone comes to the door offering you £50 worth of electricity for just £25?
Those with pre-payment meters are targeted in this scam. Criminals use fake electricity keys to top up energy credit illegally, claiming they are from the energy company.
However, the real energy company will see they haven’t received payment for the energy put onto the meter – meaning victims will be left to pay for their energy twice. According to Action Fraud, more than 110,000 households have been affected by this crime.
Invoice Scam
If you receive an invoice or bill for a good or service you haven’t used or that doesn’t look quite right, this could be a fake invoice.
These fake invoices use pressure tactics to make you pay a fake bill – often the due date for the ‘payment’ will have passed or they may threaten legal action if the bill isn’t settled.
If you are unsure whether the bill is legitimate, contact the company directly and ask. If it is from a company you have never used or even heard of, do not respond and contact Action Fraud.
Sadly there are many new and dangerous types of fraud being started daily, there are even “Scam Academies” springing up around the country that teach others how to scam, and in an increasingly digital age we are all vulnerable.
To read MoneyMagpie’s A-Z of scams click here.
