Our Scams Awareness campaign this year focusses on raising awareness of how consumers can be at risk of losing money through financial and investment scams. 

A scam is a scheme to try to steal money, personal information or data. It’s important to always keep an eye out for scams. They can and do affect anyone. 

There are lots of different types of scams emerging, such as: 

Scammers posting investment opportunities on social media that offer large profits. These profits are then not shared with consumers despite them investing or paying large fees. 

Fraudsters using high pressure sales techniques to get vulnerable consumers to invest. 

Check for language such as ‘loophole’ or ‘guaranteed returns’ and don’t be rushed into making any quick decisions or into providing personal or bank details straight away.

If you’re contacted unexpectedly by a financial business or individual, make sure you reply using the contact details on the Financial Services Register – fca.org.uk/firms/financial-services-register. If you can’t find a firm on the Register, call the FCA on 0800 111 6768. 

Scammers sometimes clone legitimate investment companies, using their own phone number and website details.

Again, you can visit the FCA website fca.org.uk to check if an investment company has been reported as a scam and check if it is registered with the FCA. 

Remember the warning signs - 

If something seems too good to be true – like an email saying you’ve won a competition you don’t remember entering. 

Someone you don’t know contacts you unexpectedly. 

You're being urged to respond quickly so you don’t get time to think about it or talk to family and friends. 

You've been asked to pay for something urgently or in an unusual way. Paying by debit or with credit cards can give you extra protection. 

You've been asked to disclose personal information. 

Be suspicious. Scammers are smart and can appear to say all the right things. Never open attachments or click on any links in messages if you’re not sure who the message came from or you don’t trust them. 

If you think someone is calling to trick you into giving them money or your personal details, hang up and call 159.

This is a secure service that connects you directly with your bank. Find out if your bank uses this service at stopscamsuk.org.uk/159. 

If you need support call the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133. You should also report scams or suspected scams to Action Fraud.