Eight common scams you should know about

GET ADVICE, report it and tell others about '“ these are the three rules Trading Standards is urging everyone to follow.
Some of the most common scams involve cold-calling or emails.Some of the most common scams involve cold-calling or emails.
Some of the most common scams involve cold-calling or emails.

And in support of its Scams Awareness Month, City of York Council Trading Standards is asking people to help spread the word and expose the tactics of fraudsters.

There have been reports from residents in the city of cold callers claiming to have been told by the council about a supposed car accident.

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Scam methods such as this are known as vishing, whereby scammers cold-call people in a bid to get their bank details, and offers of fake services. Besides claiming to be from a reputable organisation, these include telling people their computer has a virus which they can fix remotely.

National research by Citizens Advice found scam victims lose on average of £2,500.

But the highest losses are reported by victims of investment scams, which involve people investing in fake diamonds or bogus shares. They lose on average £20,000 each.

City of York Council leader David Carr said: “Scams cause their victims, many of whom are elderly, real distress. They heap misery on people and in some cases can lead to financial ruin.

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“Fraudsters use sophisticated techniques to con people and because they vary their methods, it can be tricky to spot when something is a scam. If you come across something that seems suspicious, seek advice so you don’t put yourself at risk.

“It’s vital to report scams and spread the word so we can clampdown on con artists and stop others falling into the same traps.”

Eight common scams reported to Citizens Advice are:

Investment – victims are persuaded to invest money into fake ventures and are then unable to get their money back.

Fake services – people are offered a service for a fee, only to find the service isn’t real or doesn’t exist at all. Examples include offers to fix computers remotely and fake invoices for advertising.

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Vishing – con-artists cold-call people pretending to be a legitimate company, asking for credit or debit card details. For example, on the pretence that they need to refund overpaid bills.

Phishing – sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies to persuade people to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, online.

Doorstep selling – victims are offered goods door-to-door or from the back of a van, which are likely to be counterfeit. Fraudsters selling mattresses, fresh fish and cleaning products were all reported to Citizens Advice.

Upfront payment or fee – fraudsters ask for a payment in advance for a service or product that never materialises, such as asking for a fee to get a loan, or to pay for a training course to secure a job.

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Premium rate texts – victims inadvertently agree to receive premium rate texts about games or competitions, usually costing around £4 each.

Counterfeit goods – people buy goods at marketplaces or online that turn out to be counterfeit or even stolen. Common products include cigarettes, shoes and clothing, and tickets for events.

Goods not received – people place orders for goods which don’t arrive. Scams are often carried out through social media and online auction sites.

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