Scams are schemes to con you out of money. They usually come by email, phone or post, and target businesses and individuals. 

You can avoid becoming a victim by knowing the warning signs of scams.

Examples seen by us in Jersey include fake lottery letters sent to householders, emails that appear to have come from people's genuine bank or building society, and calls from companies persuading people to buy non-existent services. All of these scams, of course, are designed to get your money.

Scam warning signs

Always be alert to the warning signs of a scam. The tactics that conmen use are designed to make it difficult for you to say no, so by knowing what to look out for, you'll be better able to protect yourself against scammers.

• if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is - people may make big promises
• if you're contacted by someone you've never heard of, whether it's a company or individual
• if you're asked to give an immediate answer - scammers want you to part with your money immediately, so they'll say things that may make it difficult for you to say no
• if you're asked for your bank account details - this is a sure sign of a scam, as reliable companies would never ask for this information

Be very careful about who you share your personal information with. Your bank or building society would never call you without warning and ask you to disclose your pin number, date of birth or other personal information. 

> ActionFraud website

You can also contact Trading Standards on tel 01534 448160.  

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