Website of the UK government

Protect yourself from scams

Scams that try to trick you out of your money include:

• psychic or clairvoyant scams
• prize draws, sweepstakes and foreign lottery scams
• online dating scams
• financial scams
• health scams
• job scams
• work-from-home scams - see link 'Working from home (employment section)'

Get information about how to deal with scams by following the link below.

• How to protect yourself against scams

• Working from home (employment section)

• Report a scam to Action Fraud Opens new window

Psychic or clairvoyant scams

Psychic or clairvoyant scams approach you by sending you a letter. The letters can either:

• be aggressive - saying something terrible will happen to you if you don't pay them
• predict wonderful things happening in your future and request money for a full report

People have lost thousands of pounds paying for these fake reports.

Clairvoyants and psychic scams are one of the most common scams sent by post. Identical letters are sent to thousands of other people to trick them (see an example below).

If you get one of these letters, throw it away. Follow the link below to find out how to stop unwanted mail.

• Stop unwanted mail (Mail preference service) Opens new window

• Download an example of a clairvoyant scam mailing Opens new window

Prize draws, sweepstakes and foreign lottery scams

Prize draws, sweepstakes and foreign lottery scams say you have won a prize – all you need to do is pay a 'processing' or 'administration' fee. But you will end up with nothing or a cheap item that's worth less than the fee. 

The scam may also ask you to:

• call a premium-rate phone number (beginning 090) – you will hear a message that tricks you into staying on the phone for a long time
• provide personal or financial information for 'identification' – they will use this to steal your money

If you get an offer for a lottery or competition you haven't entered, always ignore it.

If you think you’ve been targeted by a premium-rate scam, complain to PhonepayPlus. It has the power to fine companies and stop them offering premium rate numbers.

• Complain to PhonepayPlus Opens new window

Online dating scams

In dating scams, the person you have met online says they live overseas and need money to help them come to the UK. You send the money but the person disappears, along with your money.

Protect yourself from online dating scams by:

• never sending money to someone you meet online
• asking lots of questions in your emails – if they aren't answered, it's likely to be a standard email that's been sent to thousands of people
• reporting any suspicions to the dating website

Financial scams

Financial scams usually promise you something for nothing. For example 'advance fee' scams offer a huge fee in exchange for 'helping' someone transfer money out of a country.

Other scams get you to:

• invest in shares or high-value items like fine wine that turn out to be worthless
• pay upfront fees to access loans or deals you won't get
• bank a cheque for more than the asking price of something you're selling and then transfer the difference to the scammer

The reality is these scams are used to get hold of your bank details and steal money from you. Never give out bank details to people you don't know.

Before you invest or pay any money:

• do an online search for the company or individual
• get independent financial advice on the offer
• take the paperwork away to read – never sign up to anything immediately

Only buy or sell shares with a company that is on the Financial Services Authority (FSA) register of authorised firms.

Follow the link below for more examples of financial scams.

• Financial scams (money, tax and benefits section)

• Check if a shares trader is on the FSA register Opens new window

• Download a guide to see how advanced fee scams work Opens new window

• Download an example of an advanced fee scam Opens new window

• Download an example of a racing tips scam Opens new window

Health scams

There are two common health scams:

• miracle cure scams – unproven claims are made for products to treat illnesses like arthritis, diabetes and cancer
• slimming scams – companies sell products they say will result in dramatic weight loss, eg a pill or cream (see links below)

To make these claims sound realistic they:

• use phrases like 'scientific breakthrough' and 'ancient remedy'
• offer 'no-risk, money-back guarantees'
• use quotes they say are from satisfied customers or doctors ('testimonials')

Talk to your GP before you buy any medicine or weight loss product by mail order or over the internet.

• Download an example of a fake slimming leaflet Opens new window

• Visit a fake slimming website Opens new window

• Download an example of a fake slimming email Opens new window

• Get advice about fake drugs from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency Opens new window

Job scams

Job scams promise an exciting new career if you pay an upfront fee for training, study aids or materials for your new job. Examples of careers offered include:

• author
• model
• inventor
• mystery shopper

Once you pay the fee, you won’t get what you need to start your new career. Before you pay any money, do an online search of the organisation and check any contract to understand what you will get for the fee.

More useful links

• How to find a reliable business

• Working from home (employment section)

• Consumer rights - an introduction