Are you one of the 10% who has been taken in by a scam?
A report by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) indicates that nearly 10% of the UK population has been taken in by scams of various types. While this figure itself equates to around 4 million adults in the UK many believe this is just the tip of the iceberg with many victims of scams embarrassed or afraid to come forward. So what can we do to avoid scams in the future?
There is no doubt that fraudsters and those carrying out scams have benefited from the economic downturn in the UK which has made more and more people desperate for cash. Scams which only a few years ago would never have even been considered by many in the UK are now attracting the attention of those desperate for money to cover their living expenses. This environment is "perfect" for fraudsters who have introduced more complicated scams and frauds over the years.
The introduction of the Internet has also opened many doors for the fraudsters who are now able to operate from countries and areas of the world outside of the UK regulatory powers, making it very difficult to find them. The truth is that if something looks too good to be true then it is likely to be some kind of fraud or some kind of scam and you should be very wary indeed!
Share this..
Related stories
Civil servant expenses under the spotlight
It started with the MPs expenses scandal, moved on to the BBC and now we are seeing civil servant expenses picked apart in the press. Civil servants tend to remain in the shadows when a new government takes charge although they have a very important role to play in the everyday running of the UK government. However, the figures being suggested in the UK press are astronomical with one article sugg...
Read MoreRBS customers experience cash machine problems
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has experienced cash machine problems which have left customers unable to draw out money. Natwest, which is owned by RBS, has also been affected by the issue. Millions of RBS and Natwest customers have been unable to access cash from ATM machines after technical problems. Cashpoints, online banking and telephone banking systems have crashed, leaving customers unable...
Read MoreCould the UK lose its Triple-A credit rating?
Despite the fact there is still significant concern about the state of the UK national finances, very few people believe that the UK's AAA credit rating is seriously at risk. However, Neil Woodford, one of the U.K.'s leading fund managers and head of investment at Invesco Perpetual, believes that there is a "high probability" of Britain losing its AAA credit rating. So is this a real possibility?...
Read MoreHow often should you examine your mortgage arrangements?
While the vast majority of people in the UK sign up to their mortgage agreement and leave it to run its full term we are starting to see more proactive moves from those looking to cut their mortgage obligations for the future and take advantage of short-term interest-rate movements. The government investigation into the mortgage sector just a few years ago severely curtailed the practice of large...
Read MoreUK government could place air travel beyond reach of ordinary families
The UK government is in danger of placing air travel beyond the means of ordinary British families if proposed air passenger duty hikes are implemented, according to the British Airline Pilots Association. The airlines have long been a target for the UK authorities and with air tax set to increase by a minimum of 20% in the UK over the next two years (with longer flights seeing increases in excess...
Read More