Scams

Scams can be difficult to recognise, but there are things you can look out for.

If you would like to talk to someone, please contact Citizens Advice Plymouth.

• Check if something might be a scam
• Check if you can get your money back after a scam
• What to do if you've been scammed
• Report a scam
• Get emotional support if you've been scammed
• Get help with online scams

Recognising a scam

It might be a scam if:

• it seems too good to be true - for example, a holiday that's much cheaper than you'd expect 
• someone you don't know contacts you unexpectedly
• you suspect you're not dealing with a real company - for example, if there's no postal address
• you've been asked to transfer money quickly
• you've been asked to pay in an unusual way - for example, by iTunes vouchers or through a transfer service like MoneyGram or Western Union
• you've been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs
• you haven't had written confirmation of what's been agreed

Reporting a scam helps track down and stop scammers. This prevents other people from being scammed.

You should:

• protect yourself from further risks
• gather all the details of the scam
• report the scam to Citizens Advice 
• report the scam to other organisations

Call the Citizens Advice helpline

You can contact an adviser by calling the consumer helpline.

The phone number is 0808 223 1133 and someone will be able to help you between 8am to 6pm from Monday to Friday.

Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.

This page is based on content that originated from Citizens Advice (adapted).

 

 

---

 

Is the information correct?

Let us know if the information on this page is wrong and needs to be updated.

Want to create a page on the Plymouth Online Directory?  Register for free and add a page - it only takes a few minutes.