CAB IMPACT ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Please see the report regarding the CAB Service's impact on local communities by clicking here.

Scams

A scam is a scheme to try and con you out of money. There are hundreds of different scams, including fake lotteries and prize draws, fake investment plans, get rich quick schemes, pyramid schemes, family history scams, Nigerian letters scams and premium phone rate number scams. The people running the scam may contact you by phone, post, or email. New scams from the UK and overseas appear every day, so it's important to know how to spot them. Here are some tips to help you spot a scam:

* you're told you've won a prize in a draw or lottery, even though you haven't entered one - it is highly unlikely that someone will contact you out of the blue and give you something for nothing

* you are offered exclusive entry to a scheme and told its a sure way to make money

* you're told there's a sure fire way to earn easy money by helping someone get untold millions out of their country or you've been offered a job that involves transferring funds.

* you are offered the chance to join an investment scheme that will make you huge amounts of money

* someone asks you to send money up front - for example an administration fee or tax - you should never send any money in order to get a prize

* you are asked to give your personal bank details or other personal information - don't give personal finance information to anyone without thoroughly checking them out first and be particularly wary of emails that appear to come from your bank. These can easily be forged and so can web sites. Check the URL carefully at the top of your browser. Banks do not ask you to 'update' or 'check' your banking login details. If in doubt, call them.

* you are given a PO number as an address

* you are asked not to tell anyone about the deal

* you are asked to ring a number starting with 090 (a premium rate number

* you are told you must reply to an offerof money straight away or it will be given to someone else

If you discover a scam, tell your friends and family. If you have been a victim of a scam, you should report it, the bureau can advise you on this.

And finally remember....if it seems too good to be true it probably is!!