Avoiding scams and fraud

Scams are designed to trick you, or the person you are caring for, into giving away money or personal details. 

Scams are constantly changing and come in many forms, such as mail, email, telephone, website links and from visitors to your home. 

Scammers may try to deceive with promises of prizes, free money, discounted goods and other enticements. Another common ploy is to try to scare people by saying that there’s something wrong with their account, or that their money is at risk.

Talk to the person you care for about avoiding scams

Talk to the person you care for so they are aware of scams and fraud and how to avoid them.

• Find  tips, tools and fraud prevention guidance – all designed to help keep you, your money and your personal data safe - on your bank or building society's website. 
• The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has lots of advice on how to avoid a scam or report a scam.
• Take Five is a campaign offering straightforward advice that helps prevent email, phone-based and online fraud, particularly where criminals impersonate trusted organisations.
• Friends Against Scams aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams.
• Action Fraud is the fraud and cyber crime reporting centre with lots of tips for staying safe.
• The Telephone Preference Service is an official register for landline and mobile numbers. It allows you to opt out of usolicited calls (there is also a similar Postal Preference Service)
• If you have received an email which you’re not quite sure about, forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) at report@phishing.gov.uk.
• If you or the person you care for are new to using the internet or need a reminder on how to stay safe, get tips for staying safe online.