Type of scam

 Phishing

This is an email scam where you appear to get a message from a legitimate source, such as your bank, HMRC, PayPal, Apple or Amazon.

The message will encourage you to click a link and log into your account, normally by telling you your account has been locked or there's a large transfer of money.

In reality, the link in the email goes to a fake website which collects your information.

Another version of this scam involves an email attachment - perhaps a coupon or form you need to fill in - which is in fact a computer virus.

How To Spot It

Look at how you're addressed in the email. Scammers will use a general greeting such as Dear Sir, Dear Madam or Dear Customer. Legitimate emails will use your name.

The email address the message has been sent from. Open the email and expand the pane at the top of the message and look at the email it was sent from. If it's a real message, it will come from a recognisable address - such as 'noreply@bank.com'. Scammers won't be able to send messages from a real domain name. So the email addresses will be filled in with random letters or numbers, such as 'noreply @1234.bank.com', or have deliberate spelling mistakes.

What to do

Never click the links in a suspicious email. If you think there might be a legitimate problem with an account, go to the website directly and log in. This way, you'll never be caught out by a fake website.

Some organisations, such as HMRC, have an email address you can forward these emails on to, which helps them combat scams.

Vishing

This is phone call where the scammers pretend to be from your bank, building society or even a government agency.\n\nDuring the phone call, the fraudsters will attempt to get you to reveal your personal details.

How To Spot It

It's very difficult to spot. The big tip-off is that the caller will be desperately trying to get you to reveal your information, which no legitimate caller would ask you to do.

What to do

If you're sure the call is fraudulent, just hang up the phone.

If you're not sure, hang up the phone and call your bank/building society on the number on your debit or credit card.

This means you can be sure you're going to the right people. And if there is a problem, they can tell you about it.

But be careful. Scammers can hijack your phone line. So when you hang up, wait a few minutes before calling your bank or building society.

Investment scams

This is generally a phone-based scam. Although you might be targeted in other ways, such as email or people coming to your house.

Although investment scams vary, the principle remains the same. You're encouraged to hand over money to invest in a company or product, which doesn't exist.

How To Spot It

It can be quite difficult. Many of the companies the scammers are calling from or trying to get you to invest in can look legitimate - with websites, social media profiles and testimonials.

It's unlikely a company will contact you out of the blue about an investment opportunity. So if you get an unexpected phone call, it's best to ignore it.

A big warning sign should be if you're told an investment offers a high rate of return with little risk.

What to do

Report scams on the FCA website.

Pension scams

Since the pension freedoms were introduced in 2015, retirees are able to access large sums of money from pension pots.

An unfortunate side-effect has been that this group is now being targeted by scammers because they can potentially access large amounts of cash.

Pension scams will usually follow a similar path to investment scams, with contact normally being made by telephone.

How To Spot It

Warning signs are similar to those for investment scams.

Unsolicited phone calls, or any unrequested contact, should be treated as suspicious. Anything involving high returns with low risk should ring alarm bells.

What to do

Report scams on the FCA website.

Authorised push payment fraud The goal of this scam is to get you to voluntarily send, or authorise, a payment to the scammers. They do this by posing as a legitimate business, often by intercepting or hacking your email account.

This often occurs when you're in the process of buying a house, having building work done on your home or booking a holiday.

There's a new common scam where you might get a text or WhatsApp from a new number, telling you that they're a friend or relative that needs money. The messages can be worryingly convincing, if in doubt, call or message the person they're pretending to be on their old number to double check.

How To Spot It

Spotting push payment fraud can be very difficult as it normally occurs at a time when you're expecting to be asked for payment. Don't assume all messages are genuine.

What to do

Check the company you expect to be paying sent you the email, and that the bank details match.

Computer software fraud

This is where scammers pretending to be from Apple or Microsoft contact you by phone or email. They say they need your payment details to fix, update or validate your software

How To Spot It

It's very unlikely computer companies would make a phone call about these kind of issues if you haven't asked for one./n/nSo it's best to treat the calls with the same suspicion as you would treat any other unexpected call or email.

What to do

If in doubt, contact your computer or software supplier and never give out your payment details.

If you do fall victim, new rules introduced by the FCA mean you can now make a complaint to your bank and the bank receiving the payment.

Most high street banks area signed up to this new code of practice.

Smishing

These are text message-based scam.

Scammers will contact you claiming to be from your bank, saying you need to update your personal details or that there's an issue.

The text might contain a link, like a phishing scam, or a phone number to call. The phone number is fake and when you call the fraudsters will attempt to get you to reveal your details.

How To Spot It

It's difficult to spot, so if you get a message like this be suspicious. -

One giveaway might be the phone number in the text is not the same as the one on your credit or debit card.

What to do

If in doubt, call the number on your card and find out if they have tried to contact you.