Browse all published guides by scam type, payment method, platform, or impersonation pattern.
Timeshare scams lure UK consumers with promises of cheap holidays and property investment returns, then trap them in long-term contracts with hidden fees. This guide explains how the scam works, what warning signs to watch for, and how to protect yourself or recover if you've already been caught.
Booking a cheap holiday, flight or villa from an agent you don't know? How to spot a fake travel agent, verify ABTA/ATOL, and protect your money.
Booking.com scams typically arrive as fake confirmation emails or payment alerts that direct you to a fraudulent website or ask you to update your details urgently. Scammers use these to capture your card details, passport information, and login credentials.
Scammers send official-looking letters claiming to be from Companies House, often demanding urgent payment for company registration or compliance fees. This guide explains how to spot these letters, verify genuine communications, and report them to the authorities.
Scammers send emails, texts, and letters pretending to be HMRC, claiming you owe tax or must verify your self-assessment details urgently. This guide explains how the scam works, what genuine HMRC contact looks like, and what to do if you've already engaged with a fake message.
Criminals send fake text messages claiming to be from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), asking you to verify your identity, confirm bank details, or click a link. These messages are designed to harvest your personal information or trick you into paying fake fines or fees.
Council housing scams target people desperate for affordable accommodation by posing as local authority housing departments. Scammers demand upfront fees, deposits, or personal information, then disappear or use stolen data for identity fraud.
Student Finance scams target UK students with fake loan offers, fake repayment demands, and phishing emails that look like official government communications. Scammers use urgency and authority to trick you into sharing bank details, passwords, or paying upfront fees.
Sextortion is a blackmail scam delivered by email, where criminals claim to have intimate footage or screenshots and demand payment to keep quiet. These emails are almost always false, but they exploit fear and shame to pressure victims into paying.
Email account takeover is when criminals break into your email account to steal money, personal data, or impersonate you to others. This guide explains how the scam works, what warning signs to watch for, and exactly what to do if you think your account has been compromised.
CEO fraud, also called business email compromise (BEC), is a targeted scam where criminals impersonate company executives to trick employees into transferring funds or revealing sensitive information. This guide shows you the exact warning signs and verification steps UK businesses and employees need to know.
Mandate fraud is when criminals impersonate your supplier or service provider and convince you to alter your direct debit instructions. The scammer redirects your regular payments to their own bank account, potentially costing thousands before you notice.
Conveyancing fraud is a sophisticated crime where criminals impersonate your solicitor or conveyancer to intercept property funds. This guide explains how the scam works, what warning signs to watch for, and how to protect yourself during a property transaction.
Deed fraud involves criminals forging documents to claim ownership of your property or use it as security for loans without your knowledge. This guide explains how the scam works, what to watch for, and the urgent steps to take if you suspect your property has been targeted.
Noticed an unrecognised account or a sudden credit-file surprise? Here's how identity theft actually happens in the UK, and what to do about it first.
Ponzi schemes are illegal investment frauds that collapse when new investor money runs out. In the UK, scammers often pose as legitimate investment firms, using social media and WhatsApp to recruit victims and promise guaranteed high returns.
Cold-called about shares with a free research report thrown in? The FCA's name for this is a 'boiler room' — check before you invest.
Contacted by someone claiming to be the FCA, police, or a solicitor offering to recover money you've already lost? That contact is the scam.
Wedding photographer scams involve fraudsters impersonating real professionals or creating fake portfolios to collect deposits for non-existent services. They typically target engaged couples under time pressure, requesting large upfront payments via bank transfer or digital wallet.
Wedding venue deposit scams target engaged couples by creating fake booking confirmations and invoices that look legitimate. Scammers use stolen venue details and pressure tactics to extract deposits before the couple discovers the deception.
A 'missed delivery' text arrives after a public holiday or during the Christmas rush? Real delays can make fake parcel texts seem plausible.
Got an automated 'Amazon' call about a suspicious order or account? It's almost certainly a scam. Here's how the fake Amazon call works and how to stop it.
Chargeback scams let a buyer keep the goods and get their money back, leaving the seller out of pocket. Here's how chargeback fraud works and how to protect yourself.
Gumtree is legitimate, but scammers use it. Here are the most common Gumtree scams targeting UK buyers and sellers, the warning signs, and how to stay safe.
Someone asks you to read back a Google verification code to 'prove you're real'? It's a scam to hijack your number. Here's how it works and what to do.
Every scam relies on the same handful of tricks. Learn the pattern once and you'll recognise it in a call, text, or email you've never seen before.
An unsolicited caller offers cheap driveway or roof repairs using 'leftover materials'? How to spot a doorstep cowboy trader and report it in the UK.
Got an unsolicited call or doorstep visit offering free solar panels or a 'government grant'? How to spot a solar panel cold-calling scam in the UK.
Fake DPD 'missed delivery' or 'redelivery fee' texts are smishing scams. Here's how to spot a fake DPD text, verify a genuine one, and report it in the UK.
Fake Yodel texts about a missed parcel or small 'redelivery' fee are smishing scams. Here's how to spot a fake Yodel text, check a real one, and report it in the UK.
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