Check if something might be a scam

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

If youve seen something online or in an email or text

You can use our online tool to get advice. Our tool will ask you questions and use your answers to give you advice on:

• how to check whether something is a scam

• what to do if you've been scammed

Recognising a scam

If something seems too good to be true, it might be a scam for example, a holiday thats much cheaper than youd expect or getting an item in the post that you didnt order.

A scam can often start when someone you dont know contacts you unexpectedly.

It might be a scam if:

• you suspect youre not dealing with a real company for example, if theres no postal address

• youve 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

• youve been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs

• you haven't had written confirmation of what's been agreed

Find out about recent scams

To find out about scams across the country, you can sign up to the Trading Standards email alert on their website. Trading Standards can investigate and take court action against scammers.

You can also check the latest scams on the Which? website.

If you want to know about scams in your local area, sign up for email alerts on Action Fraud's website.

You can also find out about common financial scams on the Financial Conduct Authoritys website.

If you think youve paid too much for something

Paying more for something than you think its worth isnt the same as being scammed. Usually, a scam will involve theft or fraud.

You have other rights if you think youve overpaid.

If you think youve spotted a scam

If youve given away money or information because of a scam, there are things you should do. Check what to do if youve been scammed.

If you havent been scammed but youve seen something you think is a scam, you should report it. Find out how to report a scam.

If you think someone is calling to trick you into giving them money or your personal details, hang up and call 159. This is a secure service that connects you directly with your bank.

Calls to 159 are usually charged at the national rate - it depends on your provider.

Check if your bank uses 159 on the Stop Scams UK website.

Protecting yourself online

There are things you can do to protect yourself from being scammed online.

Check the signs of fake online shops

You can search for a company's details on GOV.UK. This will tell you if they're a registered company or not.

If youre buying something on a site you haven't used before, spend a few minutes checking it start by finding its terms and conditions. The companys address should have a street name, not just a post office box.

Check to see what people have said about the company. Its worth looking for reviews on different websites dont rely on reviews the company has put on its own website.

Also, dont rely on seeing a padlock in the address bar of your browser - this doesnt guarantee youre buying from a real company.

Dont click on or download anything you dont trust

Dont click on or download anything you dont trust - for example, if you get an email from a company with a strange email address. Doing this could infect your computer with a virus.

Make sure your antivirus software is up to date to give you more protection.

Be careful about giving personal information away

Some scammers try to get your personal information for example, the name of your primary school or your National Insurance number. They can use this information to hack your accounts. If you come across sites that ask for this type of information without an obvious reason, check theyre legitimate.

Check if your details have been shared online

Sometimes your log-in details can be made publicly available when a website is hacked. This means that someone could use your details in a scam. Check whether your accounts have been put at risk on Have I Been Pwned.

Make your online accounts secure

Make sure you have a strong password for your email accounts that you don't use anywhere else. If youre worried about remembering lots of different passwords, you can use a password manager.

Some websites let you add a second step when you log in to your account this is known as two-factor authentication. This makes it harder for scammers to access your accounts.

Find out how to set up two-factor authentication across services like Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Outlook and iTunes on the National Cyber Security Centre website.

Pay by debit or credit card

Pay by card to get extra protection if things go wrong. Read our advice on getting your money back after youve been scammed.

Know how your bank operates

Check your banks website to see how your bank will and wont communicate with you. For example, find out what type of security questions theyll ask if they phone you.

Make sure the account youre paying has the right name

When you pay a business or person online for the first time, your bank or building society will check the details you use. Theyll tell you if the name of the account holder is the same as the one you've used.

If the names are similar but not exactly the same

You should only make the payment if youre sure the account belongs to the right person or business.

If the names are completely different

Dont make the payment unless youve checked the account details and youre sure theyre correct. A scammer might have sent you a fake invoice or bill.

If the sender has given you a reason why the names are different or says its urgent, you should still check before making the payment. They shouldnt put pressure on you to pay straight away if theyre genuine.

If you make the payment without checking and its a scam, you might not get your money back.

Contact the person or organisation to check their details

Its best to do this by calling them on a trusted number - for example, the one on their website. If theres a different number on the bill or invoice, dont use it.

If you got the invoice or bill by email or text, be careful. Don't reply to the email or text to check the details, unless you're sure it's from the right person or business.

If the person or business confirms their account details and you decide to make the payment, its a good idea to start by transferring 1. You should check it went to the right account before you pay the rest.