Many of us keep trying to find ways to make our money go further, especially with the constant increase in living costs. One of the ways that you may be able to better protect your finances can be by educating yourself on the different types of scams that exist and finding ways to avoid them. While some of these may seem quite obvious, certain individuals who are not as tech-savvy, or who are vulnerable, might miss these signs. Due to this, you may want to ensure you know as much as possible so that you can better protect yourself and your loved ones.
There may be times where you receive unexpected phone calls from numbers that you do not know. While these may be legitimate, there is a chance that they could be scams. You may want to consider the area code that you live in when working out if a call is likely to be unscrupulous. If your area code is 0114 and you are called by someone with an 0161 area code, this may not be someone that you know. From here, you may opt to simply not answer the call. If it does turn out to be a company that you have connections with, they are then free to leave you a voicemail, allowing you to potentially return the call. Otherwise, you might have just avoided dealing with a scam artist.
Fake websites may also be the result of scams operating in the UK. You might receive an email telling you that a company requires payment urgently for you to avoid fines, or even that you have a parcel on the way that needs postage paid. Generally, these websites may appear the same as their genuine counterparts, but the URL will differ, allowing you to spot the difference.
At times, scammers may even try to impersonate government websites, which people could use to try and obtain passports, driving licences, or even apply for benefits. Here, not only could you lose money, but you may also give these people access to sensitive information. Only using official websites that you know, and trust can be a good way to avoid this.
Certain people may also be targeted to be used to launder money from illegitimate people or organisations, often known as money mules. Students may often be vulnerable targets due to financial struggles they may have while living away from home. They may be drawn in by a cash incentive for helping out. However, transferring money for someone else could lead to serious consequences, such as legal repercussions and your bank account being closed. It is safest to avoid transferring money for people, especially those that you do not know.
Keeping yourself informed on the scams that are circulating can be a good way of learning how to avoid them. Should a scammer contact you, it can be a good idea to inform both the police and the company they might be claiming to be from.
